title: Identification and characterization of a novel multifunctional placenta specific protein 8 in Dugesia japonica.
abstract: Placenta specific protein 8 (Plac8) has been well studied in vertebrates, yet little is known in invertebrates. In this study, a novel Plac8 from the planarian Dugesia japonica was identified and its functions in immune responses and development were characterized. Our results show that Djplac8 was expressed in the pharynx, epidermis and intestine of intact adult planarian. The expression of DjPlac8 increased significantly upon lipopolysaccharide (LPS) challenge, and inhibited the growth of the Gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa), suggesting the role of Plac8 in immune response. Spatial and temporal expression and distribution of DjPlac8 mRNA in regenerated planarians indicates that DjPlac8 was mainly expressed in the pharynx. In situ hybridization also revealed the elevated expression of the DjPlac8 gene in the embryonic pharynx, germ band and parenchyma cells, indicating an important role in embryonic development of D. japonica. When DjPlac8 was deactivated by RNA interference-mediated knockdown, the head of planarians underwent abnormal development. In summary, we identified DjPlac8 as a novel multifunctional protein that plays essential roles in immune response and development of 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: Qiuxiang
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Pang
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.
authors.forename: Yun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Bai
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: 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: 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.
authors.forename: Yanhui
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Developmental and Evolutionary Biology, School of Life Sciences, Shandong University of Technology, Zibo, Shandong 255049, China.
authors.forename: Shanhang
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yuan
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Developmental and Evolutionary Biology, School of Life Sciences, Shandong University of Technology, Zibo, Shandong 255049, China.
authors.forename: Wenping
authors.initials: W
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: Yiqian
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Lu
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: 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. Electronic address: zhaobosheng@sdut.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Bosheng
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Zhao
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D015801:Helminth Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000378:metabolism; D010614:Pharynx / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology; D010802:Phylogeny; D010932:Planarians / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D012038:Regeneration
chemical_list: D015801:Helminth Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger
keywords: Development; Immunity; Pharynx; Plac8; Planarian