title: Molecular characterization of the autophagy-related gene Beclin-1 from the olive flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus).
abstract: Autophagy is an important cellular response to starvation and stress, and plays critical roles in embryogenesis, development, cell death, cancer, and immunity. Beclin-1 is one of the central regulators of autophagy in mammals. In the present study, we isolated a PoBeclin-1 cDNA from the olive flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus) by screening a flounder gill cDNA library and rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE). The PoBeclin-1 cDNA we isolated encodes a 447-amino acid polypeptide containing a conserved Bcl-2-binding domain. The deduced amino acid sequence of PoBeclin-1 showed high degrees of sequence identity (80.5-95.3%) with Beclin-1 from human, frog, mouse, zebrafish, and pufferfish. PoBeclin-1 transcripts were detected from 1 day post-hatching and were found to be ubiquitously expressed in the healthy flounder. Expression of PoBeclin-1 mRNA was increased in the kidney and spleen of flounders challenged with viral hemorrhagic septicemia virus (VHSV). When infected with VHSV, PoBeclin-1-overexpressing HINAE cells had low level (about 26%) of VHSV G transcripts compared to control cells. Taken together, these results suggest that PoBeclin-1 may play a role in the innate immune response to viral infection in the flounder.
authors: Biotechnology Research Division, National Fisheries Research and Development Institute, 408-1 Sirang-ri, Gijang-eup, Gijang-gun, Busan 619-705, Republic of Korea. konghj@nfrdi.go.kr
authors: Hee Jeong
authors: HJ
authors: Kong
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authors: Moon
authors: Bo-Hye
authors: BH
authors: Nam
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authors: Jeong-Ho
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