Molecular cloning, expression analysis and cellular localization of an LFRFamide gene in the cuttlefish Sepiella japonica.
Neuropeptides are important regulators of physiological processes in metazoans, such as feeding, reproduction, and heart activities. In this study, an LFRFamide gene was identified from the cuttlefish Sepiella japonica (designated as SjLFRFamide). The full-length sequence of SjLFRFamide cDNA has 841bp, and the open reading frame contains 567bp encoding 188 amino acids, which shared high similarity with precursor SOFaRP2 from Sepia officinalis. The deduced SjLFRFamdie precursor protein contains a signal peptide and four different FLPs (FMRFamide-like peptides): one pentapeptide (TIFRFamide), two hexapeptides (NSLFRFamide and GNLFRFamide) and one heptapeptide (PHTPFRFamide). Multiple sequence alignment showed that SjLFRFamide contains rather conserved mature peptides, which all ended in FRF. The phylogenetic analysis suggests that SjLFRFamide belongs to the LFRFamide subfamily. The tissue distribution analysis through quantitative real-time PCR method showed that SjLFRFamide mRNA is significantly expressed in the brain, and slight trace are detected in female nidamental gland and accessory nidamental gland. In situ hybridization assay of the brain indicated that SjLFRFamide is transcribed in several different functional lobes, suggesting SjLFRFamide might associate with multiple physiological regulations, such as feeding, chromatophore regulation and reproduction. This is the first study describing LFRFamide in S. japonica, which might have great importance for cuttlefish artificial breeding.
National Engineering Research Center of Marine Facilities for Aquaculture, School of Marine Science and Technology, Zhejiang Ocean University, Zhoushan 316022, PR China.
Zi-Hao
ZH
Cao
National Engineering Research Center of Marine Facilities for Aquaculture, School of Marine Science and Technology, Zhejiang Ocean University, Zhoushan 316022, PR China.
Lian-Lian
LL
Sun
National Engineering Research Center of Marine Facilities for Aquaculture, School of Marine Science and Technology, Zhejiang Ocean University, Zhoushan 316022, PR China. Electronic address: chichangfeng@hotmail.com.
Chang-Feng
CF
Chi
National Engineering Research Center of Marine Facilities for Aquaculture, School of Marine Science and Technology, Zhejiang Ocean University, Zhoushan 316022, PR China.
Hui-Hui
HH
Liu
Key Laboratory of Sustainable Development of Marine Fisheries, Minister of Agriculture, Yellow Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Science, Qingdao 266071, PR China.
Li-Qing
LQ
Zhou
National Engineering Research Center of Marine Facilities for Aquaculture, School of Marine Science and Technology, Zhejiang Ocean University, Zhoushan 316022, PR China.
Zhen-Ming
ZM
Lv
National Engineering Research Center of Marine Facilities for Aquaculture, School of Marine Science and Technology, Zhejiang Ocean University, Zhoushan 316022, PR China.
Chang-Wen
CW
Wu
D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000502:physiology*; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D018076:DNA, Complementary; D049832:Decapodiformes / Q000166:cytology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D015870:Gene Expression; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D010802:Phylogeny; D016415:Sequence Alignment
D018076:DNA, Complementary; C499891:LFRFamide; D009479:Neuropeptides
Cuttlefish; FMRFamide-like peptides; LFRFamide; Neuropeptide; Sepiella japonica