Expressed sequence tags from the zhikong scallop (Chlamys farreri): discovery and annotation of host-defense genes.
A high-quality cDNA library was constructed from whole body tissues of the zhikong scallop, Chlamys farreri, challenged by Listonella anguillarum. A total of 5720 clones were sequenced, yielding 5123 expressed sequence tags (ESTs). Among the 3326 unique genes identified, 2289 (69%) genes had no significant (E-value < 1e-5) matches to known sequences in public databases and 194 (6%) matched proteins of unknown functions. The remaining 843 (25%) genes that exhibited homology with genes of known functions, showed broad involvement in metabolic processes (31%), cell structure and motility (20%), gene and protein expression (12%), cell signaling and cell communication (8%), cell division (4%), and notably, 25% of those genes were related to immune function. They included stress response genes, complement-like genes, proteinase and proteinase inhibitors, immune recognition receptors and immune effectors. The EST collection obtained in this study provides a useful resource for gene discovery and especially for the identification of host-defense genes and systems in scallops and other molluscs.
Wang
Lingling
L
The Key laboratory of Experimental Marine Biology, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao, Shandong, PR China.
Song
Linsheng
L
Zhao
Jianmin
J
Qiu
Limei
L
Zhang
Huan
H
Xu
Wei
W
Li
Honglei
H
Li
Chenhua
C
Wu
Longtao
L
Guo
Ximing
X