Telomerase Reverse Transcriptase Gene from Greasyback Shrimp Metapenaeus ensis: Isolation, Genomic Organization and...

Area of Science:

• Molecular Biology
• Crustacean Genetics
• Telomere Biology

Background:

• Telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) is crucial for telomerase function.
• Understanding TERT in crustaceans like Metapenaeus ensis is vital for aquaculture and cell biology.

Purpose of the Study:

• To isolate and characterize the full-length cDNA and DNA sequences of the TERT gene (MeTERT) from Metapenaeus ensis.
• To analyze the expression patterns of MeTERT in various tissues and developmental stages of M. ensis.

Main Methods:

• Full-length cDNA and genomic DNA sequencing of MeTERT.
• Bioinformatic analysis of MeTERT sequence and protein domains.
• RT-qPCR for analyzing MeTERT mRNA expression levels.

Main Results:

• The MeTERT cDNA is 4239 bp, encoding 1076 amino acids, with conserved TERT domains.
• MeTERT has a distinct genomic structure with two introns.
• MeTERT mRNA was detected in all tissues, with higher expression in gills, mysis, Oka organ, and eggs, and lower in muscle, ovary, and heart.

Conclusions:

• The characterized MeTERT provides insights into telomerase function in crustaceans.
• Reduced MeTERT expression in cultured cells may cause mitosis arrest, suggesting TERT trans-activation for cell immortalization.
• This study establishes a foundation for investigating telomerase functions in crustaceans.