Molecular cloning, characterization and expression of a C-type lectin cDNA in Chinese mitten crab, Eriocheir sinensis

Hao Zhang, Liqiao Chen, Jianguang Qin, Daxian Zhao, Ping Wu, Chuanjie Qin, Na Yu, Erchao Li

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    22 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    C-type lectins are pattern-recognition proteins which are functionally important for pathogen recognition and immune regulation in vertebrates and invertebrates. In this study, a lectin cDNA named as Es-Lectin was cloned and characterized from the Chinese mitten crab, Eriocheir sinensis. The full-length sequence of this Es-Lectin cDNA was 651 bp, including an open reading frame of 483 bp encoding 160 amino acids. The predicted molecular weight of the Es-Lectin was 11.8 kDa. A typical signal peptide of 21 amino acids was deduced at the N-terminus of the predicted protein. This Es-Lectin belongs to a C-type lectin and contains six cysteines, a conserved EPN motif (Glu-Pro-Asn) and an imperfect WND (Trp-Asn-Asp) motif (FND, Phe-Asn-Asp). This Es-Lectin had 55% and 32% identity with other two C-type lectins in E. sinensis, and 29-36% homology with decapods. Although the Es-Lectin was also expressed in gill, hepatopancreas, intestine, muscle and stomach, its expression in haemocytes was the greatest. The expression of Es-Lectins in haemocytes increased at 1.5 h after the Aeromonas hydrophila challenge. After a slight decrease, the Es-Lectin expression in haemocytes significantly increased at 48 h post-challenge. The diverse distribution of Es-Lectin and its enhancement by bacterial challenge indicate that C-type lectins are important in the innate immune response to bacterial infection, and can be activated for innate immune response in crab at the initial stage after pathogen infection.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)358-363
    Number of pages6
    JournalFish and Shellfish Immunology
    Volume31
    Issue number2
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - Aug 2011

    Keywords

    • Aeromonas hydrophila
    • C-type lectin
    • Chinese mitten crab
    • Eriocheir sinensis
    • Gene expression

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