Silencing FKBP38 gene by siRNA induces activation of mTOR signaling in goat fetal fibroblasts.
FKBP38 (also known as FKBP8) is a unique member of the FK506-binding protein (FKBP) family, and its role is controversial because it acts as an upstream regulator of the mTOR signaling pathway, which controls cell growth, proliferation, and differentiation. This study aimed to explore the role of FKBP38 in the activation of mTOR signaling in Cashmere goat (Capra hircus) fetal fibroblasts. To construct a Cashmere goat FKBP38 siRNA eukaryotic expression vector that targets FKBP38 mRNA, we designed shRNA based on the gene sequence deposited in GenBank (accession No. JF714970) and synthesized a DNA fragment encoding the shRNA. The DNA fragment was inserted into the pRNAT-U6.1/Neo vector to construct an expression vector of shRNA, which was labeled pRNAT-FKBP38-shRNA. The recombinant plasmid was used to transfect Cashmere goat fetal fibroblasts (GFb) using lipofectamine™2000. We found that cells were successfully transfected with pRNAT-U6.1/Neo-FKBP38-shRNA. Green fluorescence could be observed in cells following 48-h transfection. Proteins were then isolated from GFbs transfected with pRNAT-FKBP38-shRNA and from control cells, and protein expression was analyzed by western blot. Expression of FKBP38 decreased and mTOR signaling was activated, which induced the phosphorylation of mTOR, S6, and 4EBP1. Thus, FKBP38 gene-silencing activates mTOR signaling in goat cells.
College of Life Sciences, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot, China.
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Fu
College of Life Sciences, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot, China.
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Zheng
College of Life Sciences, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot, China.
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He
College of Life Sciences, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot, China.
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Jia
College of Life Sciences, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot, China.
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Guo
College of Life Sciences, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot, China.
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Yao
College of Life Sciences, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot, China.
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Wang
College of Life Sciences, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot, China lswzg@imu.edu.cn.
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Wang
D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000378:metabolism*; D015870:Gene Expression; D023061:Gene Order; D020868:Gene Silencing; D005822:Genetic Vectors / Q000235:genetics; D006041:Goats / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D010766:Phosphorylation; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics*; D019893:Ribosomal Protein S6 Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction; D058570:TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D022021:Tacrolimus Binding Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics*; D014162:Transfection
D012333:RNA, Messenger; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D019893:Ribosomal Protein S6 Kinases; D058570:TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases; D022021:Tacrolimus Binding Proteins