IFN-γ in turtle: conservation in sequence and signalling and role in inhibiting iridovirus replication in Chinese soft-shelled turtle Pelodiscus sinensis.
The IFN-γ gene was identified in a turtle, the Chinese soft-shelled turtle, Pelodiscus sinensis, with its genome consisting of 4 exons and 3 introns. The deduced amino acid sequence of this gene contains a signal peptide, an IFN-γ family signature motif (130)IQRKAVNELFPT, an NLS motif (155)KRKR and three potential N-glycosylation sites. As revealed by real-time quantitative PCR, the gene was constitutively expressed in all tested organs/tissues, with higher level observed in blood, intestine and thymus. An induced expression of IFN-γ at mRNA level was observed in peripheral blood leucocytes (PBLs) in response to in vitro stimulation of LPS and PolyI:C. The overexpression of IFN-γ in the Chinese soft-shelled turtle artery (STA) cell line resulted in the increase in the expression of transcriptional regulators, such as IRF1, IRF7 and STAT1, and antiviral genes, such as Mx, PKR, implying possibly the existence of a conserved signalling network and role for IFN-γ in the turtle. Furthermore, the infection of soft-shelled turtle iridovirus (STIV) in the cell line transfected with IFN-γ may cause the cell death as demonstrated with the elevated lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) level and cell mortality. However, the mechanism involved in the antiviral activity may require further investigation.
State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, Hubei Province 430072, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China.
Jian Ping
JP
Fu
State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, Hubei Province 430072, China.
Shan Nan
SN
Chen
State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, Hubei Province 430072, China.
Peng Fei
PF
Zou
College of Fisheries, Jimei University, 43 Yindou Road, Xiamen, Fujian Province 361021, China.
Bei
B
Huang
State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, Hubei Province 430072, China.
Zheng
Z
Guo
Yangtze River Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Wuhan, Hubei Province 430223, China.
Ling Bing
LB
Zeng
Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bioresources and Ecology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 164 West Xingang Road, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province 510301, China.
Qi Wei
QW
Qin
State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, Hubei Province 430072, China; College of Fisheries, Jimei University, 43 Yindou Road, Xiamen, Fujian Province 361021, China. Electronic address: pinnie@ihb.ac.cn.
Pin
P
Nie
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism*; D002460:Cell Line; D017124:Conserved Sequence / Q000235:genetics; D004266:DNA Virus Infections / Q000276:immunology*; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism*; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism; D017994:Iridovirus / Q000502:physiology*; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000276:immunology; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D011070:Poly I-C / Q000276:immunology; D015398:Signal Transduction; D015533:Transcriptional Activation / Q000235:genetics; D059467:Transcriptome; D019076:Transgenes / Q000235:genetics; D014426:Turtles / Q000276:immunology*; D015854:Up-Regulation; D014779:Virus Replication / Q000276:immunology
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D011070:Poly I-C
Antiviral activity; IFN-γ; IFN-γ stimulated gene; Iridovirus; Turtle