The two Cg-timp mRNAs expressed in oyster hemocytes are generated by two gene families and differentially expressed during ontogenesis.
We previously characterized a Crassostrea gigas tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase (Cg-timp 1.3) with potential role in wound healing and defense mechanisms. Here we isolated a second cDNA (Cg-timp 1.1) encoding a protein that contains the characteristic signature of TIMP proteins. Sequence analysis of the two transcripts showed that they originate from two distinct genes. The two proteins, Cg-TIMP 1.1 and 1.3, are closely related and share 81% identity. Northern blot analysis of Cg-timp gene expression in adult oyster hemocytes indicated that the ratio between the two transcripts was constant from one oyster to another (Cg-timp 1.1 and 1.3 represent 32 and 68%, respectively). Conversely, during ontogenesis the expression pattern of the two Cg-timp genes was different. Indeed, Cg-timp 1.3 mRNAs were detected from the larval D stage whereas Cg-timp 1.1 transcripts were undetectable up to 22 days post-fertilization. The difference in expression pattern of the two Cg-timp genes may reveal distinct implications of these genes in the embryos and larvae developments.
Montagnani
Caroline
C
Génome, Populations, Interactions, Adaptation (GPIA), UMR5171 (IFREMER, CNRS, UMII) Université de Montpellier II, place Eugène Bataillon, CC80, 34095 Montpellier, France.
Tirape
Ana
A
Boulo
Viviane
V
Escoubas
Jean-Michel
JM
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000235:genetics; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D006434:Hemocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D007814:Larva / Q000378:metabolism; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D005810:Multigene Family; D010125:Ostreidae / Q000196:embryology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D019714:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinases / Q000235:genetics*
D018076:DNA, Complementary; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C431265:TIMP protein, Crassostrea gigas; D019714:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinases