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Bioinformatic characterization and gene expression pattern of apoptosis inhibitor from Macrobrachium rosenbergii

Jesu Arockiaraj1, Puganeshwaran Vanaraja, Sarasvathi Easwvaran

  • 1Centre for Biotechnology in Agriculture Research, Division of Genetics & Molecular Biology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Fish & Shellfish Immunology
|September 28, 2011
PubMed

Insights

The Macrobrachium rosenbergii apoptosis inhibitor (MrIAP) is an essential immune gene. Its expression is induced in the hepatopancreas during infectious hypodermal and hematopoietic necrosis virus (IHHNV) infection, indicating a role in prawn immunity.

Area of Science:

  • Crustacean molecular biology
  • Invertebrate immunology
  • Apoptosis research

Background:

  • Apoptosis, or programmed cell death, is crucial for development and immunity.
  • Apoptosis Inhibitor 5 (IAP) proteins regulate apoptosis and are conserved across species.
  • Understanding IAPs in crustaceans like the giant prawn (Macrobrachium rosenbergii) is vital for aquaculture health.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To sequence and characterize the Apoptosis Inhibitor (MrIAP) from Macrobrachium rosenbergii.
  • To investigate the expression patterns of MrIAP in different tissues and under viral challenge.
  • To determine the role of MrIAP in the immune response against infectious hypodermal and hematopoietic necrosis virus (IHHNV).

Main Methods:

  • Genome sequencing using Illumina Solexa technology.
  • Bioinformatic analysis of nucleotide and amino acid sequences, including sequence similarity and phylogenetic tree construction.
  • Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) for gene expression analysis in various tissues and after viral challenge.

Main Results:

  • The MrIAP gene was sequenced, encoding a 535-amino acid protein with a molecular mass of 60 kDa and containing an IAP superfamily domain.
  • Phylogenetic analysis revealed MrIAP's evolutionary relationship with IAPs from other arthropods, hemichordates, and fish.
  • MrIAP expression was highest in the hepatopancreas and significantly upregulated in response to IHHNV infection, particularly in the hepatopancreas.

Conclusions:

  • MrIAP is identified as a key immune gene in Macrobrachium rosenbergii.
  • The study suggests MrIAP plays a significant role in the prawn's immune defense against IHHNV.
  • These findings contribute to understanding crustacean antiviral immunity and have implications for disease management in aquaculture.

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