Discovery of immune-related genes in Chinese mitten crab (Eriocheir sinensis) by expressed sequence tag analysis of haemocytes

  • Daxian Zhao
  • , Shuhui Song
  • , Qun Wang
  • , Xiaowei Zhang
  • , Songnian Hu
  • , Liqiao Chen*
  • *Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

56 Scopus citations

Abstract

To identify distinctive genes associated with immunity in the Chinese mitten crab (Eriocheir sinensis), an expressed sequence tag (EST) library was constructed from haemocytes of this economically important species. 3118 clones were unidirectionally sequenced and analyzed by homology searches against sequences in the GenBank, KEGG and Uniprot. Significant homology (BLASTX, e-values < 10- 5) to known genes was found in 488 of the 1039 unique sequences. The automatic functional classification based on KEGG and Gene Ontology revealed 26 putative immune-related genes (2.5% of all unique sequences, 18.9% of all ESTs). These 26 genes coded for enzymes and proteins in the clotting and prophenoloxidase-activating system, antioxidative enzymes, antimicrobial peptides, and pattern recognition molecules. The existence of these molecular processes in the activation of cellular defense in crab has not been previously reported. According to EST abundance, the major immune-related genes were the Kazal-type proteinase inhibitor (337, 11.1% of all ESTs) and the C-type lectin (72, 2.4%). The EST sequences of mitten crab haemocytes provide important information for understanding the evolution of the immune system among crustaceans in general. This study lays the groundwork for development of molecular markers related to disease resistance in the crab.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)297-303
Number of pages7
JournalAquaculture
Volume287
Issue number3-4
DOIs
StatePublished - 18 Feb 2009

Keywords

  • Eriocheir sinensis
  • Express sequence tag
  • Haemocyte
  • Immune-related gene

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