title: Expressed sequence tags from eyestalk of kuruma prawn, Marsupenaeus japonicus.
abstract: We analyzed the expressed sequence tags (ESTs) obtained from a cDNA library of the eyestalk of the kuruma prawn, Marsupenaeus japonicus, to examine gene expression profile with special focus on female reproduction. The assembly of 1988 ESTs created 136 contigs from 738 ESTs; however 1250 ESTs remained singletons. Significant similarities (blast score > or = 50 bits) to the DNA sequences in the databank were found for only 16.7% of the 1386 sequences (136 contigs plus 1250 singletons), suggesting that the eyestalk library contains many unknown genes. Ribosomal RNA and mitochondrial respiration enzymes with significant similarities were found abundantly in the ESTs, whereas genes related to maturation or endocrine systems were scarce. Three ESTs were assumed to encode novel eyestalk hormones with marked similarities to pigment-dispersing hormone, molt-inhibiting hormone and crustacean hyperglycemic hormone. Sequences encoding a product highly homologous to farnesoic acid O-methyltransferase, an enzyme that produces methyl farnesoate, were also found.
authors.affiliation: Division of Farming Biology, National Research Institute of Aquaculture, Fisheries Research Agency, Minamiise, Watarai, Mie 516-0193, Japan. yamano@fra.affrc.go.jp
authors.forename: Keisuke
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yamano
authors.forename: Tatsuya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Unuma
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D020451:Contig Mapping; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000378:metabolism; D020224:Expressed Sequence Tags; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D015723:Gene Library; D008780:Methyltransferases / Q000378:metabolism; D008957:Models, Genetic; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D033561:Penaeidae / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000235:genetics*; D010455:Peptides / Q000737:chemistry; D010802:Phylogeny; D021382:Protein Sorting Signals; D012335:RNA, Ribosomal / Q000235:genetics; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid
chemical_list: D018076:DNA, Complementary; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated; D010455:Peptides; D021382:Protein Sorting Signals; D012335:RNA, Ribosomal; C032429:methyl farnesoate; D008780:Methyltransferases; C032433:farnesoic acid O-methyltransferase