title: Molecular characterization and function of a p38 MAPK gene from Litopenaeus vannamei.
abstract: p38 mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) are broadly expressed from yeasts to mammals, and are involved in the regulation of cells responsible to various extracellular stimuli. In this study, a p38 MAPK gene (designated as Lvp38) from Litopenaeus vannamei, was cloned and characterized. It contained the conserved structures of a Thr-Gly-Tyr (TGY) motif and a substrate-binding site, Ala-Thr-Arg-Trp (ATRW). The tissue distribution patterns showed that Lvp38 was widely expressed in all examined tissues, with the highest expression in hemocytes, nerves, and intestines. Quantitative real-time PCR revealed that Lvp38 was upregulated in gills and hemocytes after infection with the Gram-negative Vibrio alginolyticus and the Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus. Reporter gene assays indicated that Lvp38 activated the expression of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) of Drosophila and shrimp. Knockdown of Lvp38 by RNA interference (RNAi) resulted in a higher mortality of L. vannamei under V. alginolyticus and S. aureus infection, as well as a reduction in the expression of three shrimp AMP genes, namely, PEN4, crustin, and ALF2. Taken together, our data indicated that Lvp38 played a role in defending against bacterial infections.
authors.affiliation: MOE Key Laboratory of Aquatic Product Safety/State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.forename: Shuang
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Chao-Zheng
authors.initials: CZ
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Yi-Hong
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Yong-Gui
authors.initials: YG
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Shao-Ping
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Weng
authors.forename: Jian-Guo
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: He
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D060829:Arthropod Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D001483:Base Sequence; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009928:Organ Specificity; D033561:Penaeidae / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology; D010802:Phylogeny; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus; D044149:Vibrio alginolyticus; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D060829:Arthropod Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases