title: Characterization of a Tal/SCL-like transcription factor in the pacific oyster Crassostrea gigas.
abstract: We have cloned and characterized a cDNA encoding Cg-tal in the Pacific oyster Crassostrea gigas. The isolated cDNA encodes a 219 amino acids protein that contains the basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) domain homologous to that of vertebrate and invertebrate Tal1/SCL. Phylogenetic analyses sustained that Cg-Tal belongs to this family of bHLH transcription factors. Northern blot analysis of Cg-tal mRNA expression in adult oyster tissues indicated that Cg-ta1 was specifically expressed in hemocytes, in a constitutive manner. In vertebrates, activation of Tal1/SCL expression is essential for the initiation of hematopoiesis and the formation of hematopoietic stem cells. Considering Tal1/SCL function in vertebrates, Cg-Tal is likely to constitute a promising tool for studying hematopoiesis in oyster.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire de Défense et Résistance chez les Invertébrés Marins (DRIM), UMR5098 (IFREMER, CNRS, UMII) Université de Montpellier II, place Eugène Bataillon, CC80, 34095, Montpellier, France.
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Barreau-Roumiguière
authors.forename: Caroline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Montagnani
authors.forename: Jean Michel
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Escoubas
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D018076:DNA, Complementary; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D007113:Immunity, Innate / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010125:Ostreidae / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D010802:Phylogeny; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D018076:DNA, Complementary; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors