title: Identification and characterization of a phospholipid scramblase encoded by planarian Dugesia japonica.
abstract: Phospholipid scramblases (PLSCRs) are the conserved calcium-binding, type II transmembrane proteins synthesized in all eukaryotic organisms. In mammals, these proteins play essential roles in various physiological processes, especially in the immune responses. However, the existence of PLSCRs and their biological functions in planarian are still unknown at present. In this study, a new member of PLSCRs was identified in planarian Dugesia japonica (D. japonica), named DjPLSCR. The sequence analysis revealed that it contains an opening reading frame consisting of 726bp encoding a putative protein of 241 amino acids with a predicted molecular mass of ~28.7kDa and an isoelectric point of 6.21. Whole-mount in situ hybridization showed that mRNAs of DjPLSCR are predominantly expressed in adult and regenerative pharynx which is an important organ of immune system in planarians. Importantly, we found that the transcription level of DjPLSCR was significantly upregulated when planarians were stimulated with the pathogen-associated molecular patterns [polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid, lipopolysaccharide, peptidoglycan and β-glucan], suggesting that DjPLSCR is involved in the immune response upon pathogen invasion. Our findings provide the first experimental insights into the characteristics and potential functions of PLSCR in planarians.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Developmental and Evolutionary Biology, School of Life Sciences, Shandong University of Technology, Zibo, Shandong 255049, China; Anti-aging & Regenerative Medicine Research Institution, School of Life Sciences, Shandong University of Technology, Zibo, Shandong 255049, China.
authors.forename: Yu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Han
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Developmental and Evolutionary Biology, School of Life Sciences, Shandong University of Technology, Zibo, Shandong 255049, China; Anti-aging & Regenerative Medicine Research Institution, School of Life Sciences, Shandong University of Technology, Zibo, Shandong 255049, China.
authors.forename: Ao
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Developmental and Evolutionary Biology, School of Life Sciences, Shandong University of Technology, Zibo, Shandong 255049, China; Anti-aging & Regenerative Medicine Research Institution, School of Life Sciences, Shandong University of Technology, Zibo, Shandong 255049, China.
authors.forename: Lili
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Developmental and Evolutionary Biology, School of Life Sciences, Shandong University of Technology, Zibo, Shandong 255049, China; Anti-aging & Regenerative Medicine Research Institution, School of Life Sciences, Shandong University of Technology, Zibo, Shandong 255049, China.
authors.forename: Weiwei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Developmental and Evolutionary Biology, School of Life Sciences, Shandong University of Technology, Zibo, Shandong 255049, China; Anti-aging & Regenerative Medicine Research Institution, School of Life Sciences, Shandong University of Technology, Zibo, Shandong 255049, China.
authors.forename: Hongkuan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Deng
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Developmental and Evolutionary Biology, School of Life Sciences, Shandong University of Technology, Zibo, Shandong 255049, China; Anti-aging & Regenerative Medicine Research Institution, School of Life Sciences, Shandong University of Technology, Zibo, Shandong 255049, China.
authors.forename: Wenjing
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Developmental and Evolutionary Biology, School of Life Sciences, Shandong University of Technology, Zibo, Shandong 255049, China; Anti-aging & Regenerative Medicine Research Institution, School of Life Sciences, Shandong University of Technology, Zibo, Shandong 255049, China.
authors.forename: Na
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Developmental and Evolutionary Biology, School of Life Sciences, Shandong University of Technology, Zibo, Shandong 255049, China; Anti-aging & Regenerative Medicine Research Institution, School of Life Sciences, Shandong University of Technology, Zibo, Shandong 255049, China.
authors.forename: Shimin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Developmental and Evolutionary Biology, School of Life Sciences, Shandong University of Technology, Zibo, Shandong 255049, China.
authors.forename: Xiufang
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Developmental and Evolutionary Biology, School of Life Sciences, Shandong University of Technology, Zibo, Shandong 255049, China. Electronic address: zhaobosheng@sdut.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Bosheng
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: Anti-aging & Regenerative Medicine Research Institution, School of Life Sciences, Shandong University of Technology, Zibo, Shandong 255049, China; Shenzhen University of Health Science Center, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518060, China. Electronic address: ppliew@szu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Baohua
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Developmental and Evolutionary Biology, School of Life Sciences, Shandong University of Technology, Zibo, Shandong 255049, China; Anti-aging & Regenerative Medicine Research Institution, School of Life Sciences, Shandong University of Technology, Zibo, Shandong 255049, China. Electronic address: pangqiuxiang@163.com.
authors.forename: Qiuxiang
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Pang
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D017124:Conserved Sequence; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000235:genetics; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic; D017238:Genes, Helminth; D015801:Helminth Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D049294:Phospholipid Transfer Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D010802:Phylogeny; D010932:Planarians / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012038:Regeneration / Q000235:genetics; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D014018:Tissue Distribution
chemical_list: D018076:DNA, Complementary; D015801:Helminth Proteins; D049294:Phospholipid Transfer Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger
keywords: Dugesia japonica; Expression pattern; Immunity; Phospholipid scramblase