title: Characterization of four novel caspases from Litopenaeus vannamei (Lvcaspase2-5) and their role in WSSV infection through dsRNA-mediated gene silencing.
abstract: Apoptosis plays an important role in white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) pathogenesis, and caspases are central players in apoptosis. Here, we cloned four novel caspases (Lvcaspase2-5) from the Pacific white shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei, and investigated their potential roles in WSSV replication using dsRNA-mediated gene silencing. Lvcaspase2-5 have the typical domain structure of caspase family proteins, with the conserved consensus motifs p20 and p10. Lvcaspase2 and Lvcaspase5 were highly expressed in muscle, while Lvcaspase3 was highly expressed in hemocytes and Lvcaspase4 was mainly expressed in intestine. Lvcaspase2-5 could also be upregulated by WSSV infection, and they showed different patterns in various tissues. When overexpressed in Drosophila S2 cells, Lvcaspase2-5 showed different cellular localizations. Using dsRNA-medicated gene silencing, the expression of Lvcaspase2, Lvcaspase3, and Lvcaspase5 were effectively knocked down. In Lvcaspase2-, Lvcaspase3- or Lvcaspase5-silenced L. vannamei, expression of WSSV VP28 gene was significantly enhanced, suggesting protective roles for Lvcaspase2, Lvcaspase3 and Lvcaspase5 in the host defense against WSSV infection.
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: Pei-Hui
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Wang
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: Ding-Hui
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Wan
authors.affiliation: School of Marine Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Yong-Gui
authors.initials: YG
authors.lastname: Chen
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: Shao-Ping
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Weng
authors.affiliation: Division of Cell Biology and Biophysics, School of Biological Sciences, University of Missouri-Kansas City, Kansas City, Missouri, United States of America.
authors.forename: Xiao-Qiang
authors.initials: XQ
authors.lastname: Yu
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 ; School of Marine Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Jian-Guo
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: He
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D020169:Caspases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D002460:Cell Line; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D004330:Drosophila; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D055785:Gene Knockdown Techniques; D020868:Gene Silencing; D033561:Penaeidae / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000821:virology*; D010802:Phylogeny; D021381:Protein Transport; D012330:RNA, Double-Stranded / Q000378:metabolism*; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D013347:Subcellular Fractions / Q000378:metabolism; D013997:Time Factors; D014779:Virus Replication; D046848:White spot syndrome virus 1 / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D012330:RNA, Double-Stranded; D020169:Caspases