title: A functional study of transforming growth factor-beta from the gonad of Pacific oyster Crassostrea gigas.
abstract: The transforming growth factor (TGF)-β superfamily is a group of important growth factors involved in multiple processes such as differentiation, cell proliferation, apoptosis and cellular growth. In the Pacific oyster Crassostrea gigas, the oyster gonadal (og) TGF-β gene was recently characterized through genome-wide expression profiling of oyster lines selected to be resistant or susceptible to summer mortality. Og TGF-β appeared specifically expressed in the gonad to reach a maximum when gonads are fully mature, which singularly contrasts with the pleiotropic roles commonly ascribed to most TGF-β family members. The function of og TGF-β protein in oysters is unknown, and defining its role remains challenging. In this study, we develop a rapid bacterial production system to obtain recombinant og TGF-β protein, and we demonstrate that og TGF-β is processed by furin to a mature form of the protein. This mature form can be detected in vivo in the gonad. Functional inhibition of mature og TGF-β in the gonad was conducted by inactivation of the protein using injection of antibodies. We show that inhibition of og TGF-β function tends to reduce gonadic area. We conclude that mature og TGF-β probably functions as an activator of germ cells development in oyster.
authors.affiliation: UMR 100 Ifremer-centre de Brest, PE2M, 29280, Plouzané, France. charlotte.corporeau@ifremer.fr
authors.forename: Charlotte
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Corporeau
authors.forename: Agnès
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Groisillier
authors.forename: Alexandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jeudy
authors.forename: Tristan
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Barbeyron
authors.forename: Elodie
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Fleury
authors.forename: Caroline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fabioux
authors.forename: Mirjam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Czjzek
authors.forename: Arnaud
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Huvet
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D049896:Crassostrea / Q000378:metabolism*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000502:physiology; D006066:Gonads / Q000378:metabolism*; D008958:Models, Molecular; D011487:Protein Conformation; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta