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Gene structure, recombinant expression and functional characterization of grass carp leptin
Guan-Gui Li1, Xu-Fang Liang, Qiuling Xie
1College of Life Science and Technology, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China.
General and Comparative Endocrinology
|October 28, 2009
Summary
Leptin in grass carp acutely reduces food intake and alters lipid metabolism gene expression. However, these effects are transient, with unknown counteracting mechanisms limiting long-term impacts.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Fish Biology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Leptin regulates feeding, energy expenditure, and reproduction in mammals.
- Its role in teleosts (bony fish) is not well understood.
- This study investigates leptin's function in grass carp and silver carp.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize grass carp and silver carp leptin genes.
- To examine the effects of recombinant grass carp leptin (rgc-LEP) on food intake and gene expression in grass carp.
- To understand the acute and chronic regulatory roles of leptin in fish.
Main Methods:
- Gene structure characterization of grass carp and silver carp leptins.
- Expression and purification of recombinant grass carp leptin (rgc-LEP) in E. coli.
- Intraperitoneal injection of rgc-LEP in grass carp.
- Real-time PCR analysis of key metabolic genes.
- Mass spectrometric identification of rgc-LEP.
Main Results:
- rgc-LEP induced a significant anorexic effect on the first day post-injection, which subsided later.
- Gene expression analysis showed acute changes in neuropeptide Y (NPY), Stearoyl-CoA desaturase 1 (SCD1), lipoprotein lipase (LPL), uncoupling protein 2 (UCP2), bile salt-activated lipase (BSAL), and fatty acid elongase (ELO).
- Grass carp leptin mRNA levels increased after rgc-LEP treatment, contrasting with mammalian responses.
Conclusions:
- Leptin exerts an acute influence on food intake, energy expenditure, and lipid metabolism in grass carp.
- The observed effects are transient, suggesting rapid counter-regulation by unknown mechanisms.
- Further research is needed to elucidate these counteracting pathways in teleosts.
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