title: Molecular cloning, characterization and expression analysis of cathepsin C gene involved in the antibacterial response in Chinese mitten crab, Eriocheir sinensis.
abstract: Cathepsins, a superfamily of hydrolytic enzymes produced and enclosed within lysosomes, function in immune response in vertebrates; however, their function within the innate immune system of invertebrates remains largely unknown. Therefore, we investigated the immune functionality of cathepsin C (catC) in Chinese mitten crab (Eriocheir sinensis), a commercially important and disease vulnerable aquaculture species. The full-length catC cDNA (1481 bp) was cloned via PCR based upon an initial expressed sequence tag (EST) isolated from a hepatopancreatic cDNA library. The catC cDNA contained a 1284 bp open reading frame (ORF) that encoded a putative 427 amino acid (aa) protein. Comparisons with other reported invertebrate and vertebrate cathepsins sequences revealed high percent identity. CatC mRNA expression in E. sinensis was responsive in hemocytes to a Vibrio anguillarum challenge, with peak exposure observed 6 h post-injection. Collectively, data demonstrate the successful isolation of catC from the Chinese mitten crab, and its involvement in the innate immune system of an invertebrate.
authors.affiliation: School of Life Science, East China Normal University, North Zhongshan Road, 3663 Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Wei-Wei
authors.initials: WW
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Xing-Kun
authors.initials: XK
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.forename: Lin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: He
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: Yan-Nan
authors.initials: YN
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.forename: Qun
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D003386:Brachyura; D020789:Cathepsin C / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000276:immunology; D015723:Gene Library; D006434:Hemocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D007113:Immunity, Innate / Q000235:genetics; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D014733:Vibrio / Q000276:immunology* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D014735:Vibrio Infections / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D020789:Cathepsin C