title: Identification and expression patterns of extracellular matrix-associated genes fibropellin-ia and tenascin involved in regeneration of sea cucumber Apostichopus japonicus.
abstract: Sea cucumbers have a strong regenerative capacity. Many important genes involved in the molecular mechanism of regeneration and associated with intercellular signaling pathways of regeneration have been identified. The product of the fibropellin-ia gene forms a layer known as the apical lamina that surrounds the sea cucumber embryo throughout development. Meanwhile, the tenascin gene displays highly restricted and dynamic patterns of expression in the embryo and is expressed in the adult during normal processes such as wound healing, nerve regeneration and tissue involution. In this study, we cloned for the first time full-length cDNAs of fibropellin-ia (1390 bp, encoding a 199 amino acid protein) and tenascin (1366 bp, encoding a 179 amino acid protein) from Apostichopus japonicus (designated Aj-fnia and Aj-tenascin, respectively) using rapid amplification of cDNA ends. The structures and characteristics of these two genes were analyzed bioinformatically, and their expression patterns associated with extracellular matrix remodeling in regeneration of A. japonicus were investigated by real-time PCR and in situ hybridization (ISH). Expression levels of Aj-fnia and Aj-tenascin in the regeneration tissues were higher than those in normal tissues. The highest expression levels of Aj-fnia and Aj-tenascin were shown in the intestine and respiratory tree on the 15th and 20th days after sea cucumbers were eviscerated. In the body wall, the highest expression levels of Aj-fnia and Aj-tenascin occurred at 35 and 45 min during early regeneration and then emerged between 5 and 7 days again during late regeneration after the body wall was injured. ISH analysis revealed expression of these genes in the body wall, longitudinal muscle, intestine and respiratory tree. These findings suggest that Aj-fnia and Aj-tenascin are crucial genes that play important roles in the regeneration of the sea cucumber.
authors.affiliation: College of Life Sciences, Liaoning Normal University, 1, Liushu South Street, Ganjingzi District, Dalian 116081, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Huazhong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ba
authors.affiliation: College of Life Sciences, Liaoning Normal University, 1, Liushu South Street, Ganjingzi District, Dalian 116081, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Feng
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Yao
authors.affiliation: College of Life Sciences, Liaoning Normal University, 1, Liushu South Street, Ganjingzi District, Dalian 116081, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: College of Life Sciences, Liaoning Normal University, 1, Liushu South Street, Ganjingzi District, Dalian 116081, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Tong
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Qin
authors.affiliation: College of Life Sciences, Liaoning Normal University, 1, Liushu South Street, Ganjingzi District, Dalian 116081, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Hong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Luan
authors.affiliation: College of Life Sciences, Liaoning Normal University, 1, Liushu South Street, Ganjingzi District, Dalian 116081, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Zhengmin
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Dalian Medical University, Dalian 116044, People's Republic of China. Electronic address: zouxiangyang@126.com.
authors.forename: Xiangyang
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zou
authors.affiliation: College of Life Sciences, Liaoning Normal University, 1, Liushu South Street, Ganjingzi District, Dalian 116081, People's Republic of China. Electronic address: houlin@lnnu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Lin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hou
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D007422:Intestines / Q000502:physiology; D012038:Regeneration; D012143:Respiratory Physiological Phenomena; D047528:Stichopus / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D019063:Tenascin / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D019063:Tenascin; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor
keywords: Apostichopus japonicus; Extracellular matrix-associated genes; Fibropellin-ia; Regeneration; Tenascin