Molecular cloning and expression profiles of Argonaute proteins in Schistosoma japonicum.
Small non-coding RNAs including microRNAs and small interfering RNAs play important roles in many biological processes of many organisms. Argonaute proteins serve as a key component of the RNA-induced silencing complex for mediating miRNA/siRNA functions. In the present study, we systematically investigated Argonaute proteins in Schistosoma japonicum by using bioinformatics in combination with 5'- and 3'-Rapid Amplification of cDNA ends techniques and thus obtained three full-length cDNAs encoding Argonaute proteins, named as SjAgo1, SjAgo2, and SjAgo3, respectively. Additionally, SjAgo1/2/3 were differentially expressed in different developmental stages of schistosomes as determined by real-time RT-PCR and Western blot. Taken together, our preliminary results suggested that SjAgo1/2/3 may control gene expression during the life cycle of S. japonicum and therefore may regulate schistosome development and other biological processes.
Chen
Jing
J
Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Key Laboratory of Animal Parasitology, Ministry of Agriculture, No.518 Zi-Yue Road, Shanghai, China, 200241.
Yang
Yanping
Y
Guo
Suxia
S
Peng
Jinbiao
J
Liu
Zongping
Z
Li
Jiakui
J
Lin
Jiaojiao
J
Cheng
Guofeng
G
D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D019295:Computational Biology; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D015801:Helminth Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012549:Schistosoma japonicum / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development*
D018076:DNA, Complementary; D015801:Helminth Proteins