title: Identification and characterization of MKK7 as an upstream activator of JNK in Litopenaeus vannamei.
abstract: Mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 7 (MKK7) is a key signal transduction regulator in c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) signaling pathway, which is involved in a wide range of physiological and pathological processes. In this study, we described the molecular cloning of a new member of MKK7 group from Litopenaeus vannamei named as LvMKK7. The full-length cDNA of LvMKK7 was 3093 bp in length, with an open reading frame (ORF) of 1440bp encoding a putative protein of 479 amino acids. LvMKK7 contained a conserved kinase domain of 261 amino acids in which there was a characteristic S-K-A-K-T motif as a potential target site of phosphorylation by MKKK. Moreover, subcellular localization showed LvMKK7 was located in both the cytoplasm and the nucleus of Drosophila S2 cells. Real-time PCR indicated that LvMKK7 was universally expressed in all tested tissues and its expression in hepatopancreas was responsive to the challenge of LPS, Poly (I:C), Vibrio parahaemolyticus, Staphhylococcus aureus and white spot syndrome virus (WSSV). In addition, co-immunoprecipitation assay demonstrated that LvJNK was phosphorylated and activated by LvMKK7, which suggested LvMKK7 was the upper regulator of LvJNK. Furthermore, RNAi-mediated knockdown of LvMKK7 enhanced the sensitivity of shrimps to V. parahaemolyticus infection. Overall, our results suggested that LvMKK7 may play important roles in the shrimp innate immunity.
authors.affiliation: MOE Key Laboratory of Aquatic Product Safety/State Key Laboratory for Bio Control, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, PR China; Institute of Aquatic Economic Animals and Guangdong Provice Key Laboratory for Aquatic Economic Animals, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, PR China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Marine Resources and Coastal Engineering, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, PR China.
authors.forename: Sheng
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: MOE Key Laboratory of Aquatic Product Safety/State Key Laboratory for Bio Control, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, PR China.
authors.forename: Zhe
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Qian
authors.affiliation: MOE Key Laboratory of Aquatic Product Safety/State Key Laboratory for Bio Control, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, PR China; Institute of Aquatic Economic Animals and Guangdong Provice Key Laboratory for Aquatic Economic Animals, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, PR China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Marine Resources and Coastal Engineering, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, PR China.
authors.forename: Haoyang
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: MOE Key Laboratory of Aquatic Product Safety/State Key Laboratory for Bio Control, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, PR China; Institute of Aquatic Economic Animals and Guangdong Provice Key Laboratory for Aquatic Economic Animals, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, PR China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Marine Resources and Coastal Engineering, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, PR China.
authors.forename: Kai
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.affiliation: MOE Key Laboratory of Aquatic Product Safety/State Key Laboratory for Bio Control, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, PR China; Institute of Aquatic Economic Animals and Guangdong Provice Key Laboratory for Aquatic Economic Animals, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, PR China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Marine Resources and Coastal Engineering, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, PR China.
authors.forename: Xiaopeng
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: MOE Key Laboratory of Aquatic Product Safety/State Key Laboratory for Bio Control, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, PR China; Institute of Aquatic Economic Animals and Guangdong Provice Key Laboratory for Aquatic Economic Animals, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, PR China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Marine Resources and Coastal Engineering, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, PR China.
authors.forename: Shaoping
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Weng
authors.affiliation: MOE Key Laboratory of Aquatic Product Safety/State Key Laboratory for Bio Control, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, PR China; Institute of Aquatic Economic Animals and Guangdong Provice Key Laboratory for Aquatic Economic Animals, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, PR China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Marine Resources and Coastal Engineering, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, PR China; School of Marine Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, PR China. Electronic address: lsshjg@mail.sysu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Jianguo
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: He
authors.affiliation: MOE Key Laboratory of Aquatic Product Safety/State Key Laboratory for Bio Control, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, PR China; Institute of Aquatic Economic Animals and Guangdong Provice Key Laboratory for Aquatic Economic Animals, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, PR China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Marine Resources and Coastal Engineering, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, PR China; School of Marine Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, PR China. Electronic address: lichaozh@mail2.sysu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Chaozheng
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D002460:Cell Line; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000378:metabolism; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000378:metabolism; D004266:DNA Virus Infections / Q000235:genetics / Q000662:veterinary; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000235:genetics; D004330:Drosophila; D005393:Fish Diseases / Q000235:genetics; D029941:Fish Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D043143:Hepatopancreas / Q000378:metabolism; D048031:JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D048688:MAP Kinase Kinase 7 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D033561:Penaeidae / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D011070:Poly I-C; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000235:genetics / Q000662:veterinary; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus; D014733:Vibrio; D014735:Vibrio Infections / Q000235:genetics / Q000662:veterinary; D046848:White spot syndrome virus 1
chemical_list: D018076:DNA, Complementary; D029941:Fish Proteins; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D048031:JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D048688:MAP Kinase Kinase 7; D011070:Poly I-C
keywords: JNK pathway; Litopenaeus vannamei; MKK7; Vibrio parahaemolyticus