Characterization of the LECT2 gene and its associations with resistance to the big belly disease in Asian seabass.
Leukocyte cell-derived chemotaxin-2 (LECT2) is an important protein of the innate immune system for the defense against bacterial infection. We cloned and characterized the LECT2 gene from Asian seabass (Lates calcarifer). Its complete cDNA consisted of an open reading frame of 459 bp encoding a protein of 152 amino acids. The genomic DNA sequence of this gene consists of four exons and three introns. Quantitative real-time PCR revealed that the LECT2 gene was expressed predominantly in liver while its expression was moderate in spleen and heart, and weak in other tissues. The LECT2 transcript was up-regulated in the kidney, spleen and liver in response to a challenge with a pathogenic bacterium Vibrio harveyi. In addition, we identified three single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the LECT2 gene, and found significant associations between these polymorphisms and resistance to the big belly disease. These results suggest that the LECT2 gene play an important role in resistance to bacterial pathogens in fish. The SNP markers in the gene associated with the resistance to bacterial pathogens may facilitate selecting Asian seabass resistant to bacterial diseases.
Molecular Population Genetics Group, Temasek Life Sciences Laboratory, 1 Research Link, National University of Singapore, 117604 Singapore, Singapore.
Gui Hong
GH
Fu
Molecular Population Genetics Group, Temasek Life Sciences Laboratory, 1 Research Link, National University of Singapore, 117604 Singapore, Singapore; Key laboratory of Freshwater Aquatic Genetic Resources, Shanghai Ocean University, Ministry of Agriculture, Shanghai, China.
Zhi Yi
ZY
Bai
Molecular Population Genetics Group, Temasek Life Sciences Laboratory, 1 Research Link, National University of Singapore, 117604 Singapore, Singapore.
Jun Hong
JH
Xia
Molecular Population Genetics Group, Temasek Life Sciences Laboratory, 1 Research Link, National University of Singapore, 117604 Singapore, Singapore.
Xiao Jun
XJ
Liu
Molecular Population Genetics Group, Temasek Life Sciences Laboratory, 1 Research Link, National University of Singapore, 117604 Singapore, Singapore.
Feng
F
Liu
Molecular Population Genetics Group, Temasek Life Sciences Laboratory, 1 Research Link, National University of Singapore, 117604 Singapore, Singapore.
Zi Yi
ZY
Wan
Molecular Population Genetics Group, Temasek Life Sciences Laboratory, 1 Research Link, National University of Singapore, 117604 Singapore, Singapore; Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, 14 Science Drive 4, Singapore 117543, Singapore. Electronic address: genhua@tll.org.sg.
Gen Hua
GH
Yue
D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D001492:Bass / Q000235:genetics*; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000235:genetics; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000235:genetics; D060467:Disease Resistance / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D005393:Fish Diseases / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology*; D040461:Gene Components; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling / Q000662:veterinary; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide / Q000235:genetics; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000662:veterinary; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA / Q000662:veterinary; D013154:Spleen / Q000378:metabolism; D014733:Vibrio / Q000276:immunology*; D014735:Vibrio Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000662:veterinary*
D017931:DNA Primers; D018076:DNA, Complementary; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
Asian seabass; Disease resistance; LECT2; SNP; Vibrio harveyi