title: Molecular cloning and transcriptional analysis of a newly identified anti-lipopolysaccharide factor gene in kuruma shrimp, Marsupenaeus japonicus.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In the present study, we have cloned a new family of anti-lipopolysaccharide factor (ALF) from haemocytes of kuruma shrimp Marsupenaeus japonicus (MjALF2) using RACE method.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Transcriptional analysis of MjALF2 gene in the organs of healthy shrimp revealed prominent expression in gills and muscle. In vitro LPS stimulation in the lymphoid organ cells resulted in significant increase in expression at 48, 8 and 12 h poststimulation, compared to the nonstimulated cells. In vivo injection of V. penaeicida does not show any high expression in time course assay. Phylogenetic analysis showed MjALF2 is placed in the group closer to P. monodon isoform 1 and 2 than to MjALF1. The full-length MjALF2 gene consists of 558 bp with a 363 -bp open reading frame, encoding 121 amino acids. The deduced peptide contains a putative signal peptide of 22 amino acids with molecular mass of about 13.8 kDa molecular mass. The deduced amino acid sequence of MjALF2 showed 83.3 and 56.7% identity with ALF sequences of P. monodon.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present work revealed the presence of MjALF2 gene, which is highly expressed in gills and muscle of healthy kuruma shrimp. Further studies are required to clarify the involvement of MjALF2 in immune responses for using as a therapeutic agent.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Antimicrobial peptides are promising potential therapeutic agents for disease control in aquaculture. Understanding the relation of MjALF2 with innate immunity mechanism will lead to develop better health management strategies for long-term sustainability of the shrimp industry.
authors.affiliation: Interdisciplinary Graduate School of Agriculture and Engineering, University of Miyazaki, Gakuen Kibanadai-nishi, Miyazaki, Japan.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mekata
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sudhakaran
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Okugawa
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kono
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sakai
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Itami
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D001483:Base Sequence; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D006434:Hemocytes / Q000737:chemistry; D007113:Immunity, Innate; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D008221:Lymphoid Tissue / Q000378:metabolism; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016366:Open Reading Frames; D033561:Penaeidae / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D010802:Phylogeny; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011485:Protein Binding; D020033:Protein Isoforms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D020506:Untranslated Regions
chemical_list: D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D020033:Protein Isoforms; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D020506:Untranslated Regions