title: The identification and characterization of lysozyme from the hard tick Haemaphysalis longicornis.
abstract: A full-length cDNA-encoding lysozyme was obtained from cDNA libraries of salivary glands of the hard tick Haemaphysalis longicornis and designated as HlLysozyme. The HlLysozyme sequence represents an open reading frame for a putative signal peptide and the mature protein composed of 121 amino acids. The calculated molecular weight of the protein is 13.7 kDa, and the theoretical isoelectric point is 9.85. HlLysozyme shares 41-79% amino acid sequence identity with the lysozymes of other organisms. The activity of recombinant HlLysozyme expressed in Escherichia coli was confirmed by a lytic zone assay using lyophilized Micrococcus lysodeikticus. The HlLysozyme activity decreased at 70 °C and was demonstrated at acidic side and neutral in a pH range. Elevated gene expression of HlLysozyme was observed when female ticks were challenged with bacteria, suggesting possible roles of lysozyme as an innate immunity of ticks against microorganisms.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Department of Frontier Veterinary Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Kagoshima University, 1-21-24 Korimoto, Kagoshima 890-0065, Japan.
authors.forename: Tetsuya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tanaka
authors.forename: Suguru
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kawano
authors.forename: Sumihiro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nakao
authors.forename: Rika
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Umemiya-Shirafuji
authors.forename: Md Morshedur
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Rahman
authors.forename: Damdinsuren
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Boldbaatar
authors.forename: Banzragch
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Battur
authors.forename: Min
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Liao
authors.forename: Kozo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fujisaki
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000737:chemistry; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000276:immunology; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D026863:Ixodidae / Q000201:enzymology*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009113:Muramidase / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism*; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000276:immunology; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
chemical_list: D018076:DNA, Complementary; D009113:Muramidase