Molecular characterization, expression, and functional analysis of chicken TRAF6

Area of Science:

• Immunology
• Molecular Biology
• Avian Biology

Background:

• Tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated factor 6 (TRAF6) is a key adaptor in the IL-1/TLR superfamily, crucial for innate immunity signaling.
• While TRAF6 function is understood in mammals, its role in chickens remains largely uncharacterized.

Purpose of the Study:

• To clone and characterize chicken TRAF6 (chTRAF6).
• To investigate the function of chTRAF6 in chicken innate immune responses, particularly against viral infections.

Main Methods:

• Cloning and sequencing of the full-length coding sequence of chTRAF6.
• Quantitative real-time PCR to analyze chTRAF6 expression in various tissues and in response to immune stimuli (poly(I:C), poly(dA:dT)) and viral infection (Newcastle disease virus).

Main Results:

• The full-length coding sequence of chTRAF6 was identified, encoding a 545-amino acid protein with conserved domains similar to other species.
• chTRAF6 exhibited broad tissue expression in chickens.
• chTRAF6 expression was significantly induced by immune stimulants and Newcastle disease virus infection in vitro and in vivo.

Conclusions:

• Chicken TRAF6 (chTRAF6) is a conserved protein with a significant role in the innate immune system.
• chTRAF6 is involved in host defense mechanisms against viral pathogens in chickens.