title: Molecular Cloning and Characterization of a New C-type Lysozyme Gene from Yak Mammary Tissue.
abstract: Milk lysozyme is the ubiquitous enzyme in milk of mammals. In this study, the cDNA sequence of a new chicken-type (c-type) milk lysozyme gene (YML), was cloned from yak mammary gland tissue. A 444 bp open reading frames, which encodes 148 amino acids (16.54 kDa) with a signal peptide of 18 amino acids, was sequenced. Further analysis indicated that the nucleic acid and amino acid sequences identities between yak and cow milk lysozyme were 89.04% and 80.41%, respectively. Recombinant yak milk lysozyme (rYML) was produced by Escherichia coli BL21 and Pichia pastoris X33. The highest lysozyme activity was detected for heterologous protein rYML5 (M = 1,864.24 U/mg, SD = 25.75) which was expressed in P. pastoris with expression vector pPICZαA and it clearly inhibited growth of Staphylococcus aureus. Result of the YML gene expression using quantitative polymerase chain reaction showed that the YML gene was up-regulated to maximum at 30 day postpartum, that is, comparatively high YML can be found in initial milk production. The phylogenetic tree indicated that the amino acid sequence was similar to cow kidney lysozyme, which implied that the YML may have diverged from a different ancestor gene such as cow mammary glands. In our study, we suggest that YML be a new c-type lysozyme expressed in yak mammary glands that plays a role as host immunity.
authors.affiliation: College of Life Science and Technology, Southwest University for Nationalities, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China.
authors.forename: Ming Feng
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.affiliation: College of Life Science and Technology, Southwest University for Nationalities, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China ; Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics & Breeding, Southwest University for Nationalities, State Ethnic Affairs Commission and Ministry of Education, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China .
authors.forename: Ming Jun
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.affiliation: College of Life Science and Technology, Southwest University for Nationalities, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China ; Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics & Breeding, Southwest University for Nationalities, State Ethnic Affairs Commission and Ministry of Education, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China .
authors.forename: Hong Hui
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Ren
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics & Breeding, Southwest University for Nationalities, State Ethnic Affairs Commission and Ministry of Education, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China .
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wang
keywords: Mammary Tissue; Milk Lysozyme; Recombinant Protein; Yak