White shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei catalase: gene structure, expression and activity under hypoxia and reoxygenation

Catalase (EC 1.11.1.6) is an antioxidant enzyme involved in redox equilibrium, regulating hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)) concentration, a harmful reactive oxygen species (ROS) that is produced during hypoxia. Hypoxia occurs commonly in aquatic environments and in shrimp farms. We studied the catalase gene of the shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei and tested its expression and enzyme activity during hypoxia (1.5mg/L O(2); 6 and 24h) and reoxygenation (1h after hypoxia). The complete gene is 2974bp long and has four introns of 821, 223, 114 and 298bp, respectively. The first intron has tree microsatellites, with GT and (T)AT(GT) repeated sequences. L. vannamei catalase is part of an invertebrate clade including crustaceans and rotifers. Catalase expression and activity is different in gills and hepatopancreas. Expression in gills increased 3.2 and 3-fold in response to hypoxia and reoxygenation (6 and 24h hypoxia, followed by 1h reoxygenation) compared to normoxia, while no differences were detected in the expression and activity in hepatopancreas. Catalase activity in gills had a contrary response to expression in hypoxia and reoxygenation.