Characterization and expression analysis of a trypsin-like serine protease from planarian Dugesia japonica.
Trypsin-like serine proteases are involved in large number of processes, especially in digestive degradation and immune responses. Here, we identify the characterization of a trypsin-like serine protease in planarian, Djtry, which interestingly has the incompletely conserved catalytic triad (K, D, and S). Phylogenetic analysis suggests that Djtry is an ancient type of trypsin-like serine proteases. The spatial and temporal expression patterns of Djtry are shown during regenerating and embryonic development by whole-mount in situ hybridization. Djtry is found to display a tissue specific expression pattern, with a predominant expression detected in whole gut region of intact and regenerating planarian. While the tissue- and stage-specific expression patterns during the embryonic development imply the roles of Djtry involve in yolk degradation and gut formation. Quantitative real-time PCR was carried out to analyze the function of this protease in vivo after planarians were stimulated to a bacterial challenge and food. The results showed that Djtry increased after a bacterial challenge and was basically stable for food. Therefore, the trypsin-like serine protease might be involved in the innate defense reactions against bacterial infection.
Laboratory of Developmental and Evolutionary, School of Life Sciences, Shandong University of Technology, Zibo, People’s Republic of China.
Luming
L
Zhou
Suge
S
Wu
Dianchen
D
Liu
Bo
B
Xu
Xiufang
X
Zhang
Bosheng
B
Zhao
D000818:Animals; D004064:Digestive System / Q000196:embryology / Q000201:enzymology; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000502:physiology; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic; D015801:Helminth Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D054884:Host-Pathogen Interactions / Q000235:genetics; D007113:Immunity, Innate / Q000235:genetics; D007814:Larva / Q000201:enzymology; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010802:Phylogeny; D010932:Planarians / Q000196:embryology / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D020539:Sequence Analysis, Protein; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D014357:Trypsin / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism
D015801:Helminth Proteins; D014357:Trypsin