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The ARM repeat domain of hemocyanin interacts with MKK4 to modulate antimicrobial peptides expression

Jude Juventus Aweya1,2, Kaiying Zhuang1,2, Yiqi Liu1,2

  • 1Institute of Marine Sciences and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Marine Biotechnology, Shantou University, Shantou 515063, China.

Iscience
|March 10, 2022
PubMed

Insights

Penaeid shrimp hemocyanin modulates antimicrobial peptide production by activating the MKK4-p38-c-Jun signaling pathway. This interaction is crucial for the shrimp

Area of Science:

  • Aquatic immunology
  • Crustacean molecular biology
  • Invertebrate innate immunity

Background:

  • Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathways regulate immune responses, including antimicrobial peptide (AMP) production.
  • The specific role of the MKK4-p38-c-Jun cascade and hemocyanin in penaeid shrimp immunity remains largely uncharacterized.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the modulation of the MKK4-p38-c-Jun cascade by hemocyanin (PvHMC) in Penaeus vannamei.
  • To determine the effect of this interaction on antimicrobial peptide (AMP) production during pathogen challenge.

Main Methods:

  • Pathogen challenge experiments with Vibrio parahaemolyticus, Staphylococcus aureus, and white spot syndrome virus.
  • Gene knockdown of Penaeus vannamei hemocyanin (PvHMC) and analysis of MKK4-p38-c-Jun cascade protein expression and phosphorylation.
  • Investigation of PvHMC interaction with PvMKK4 using its armadillo (ARM) repeat domain.

Main Results:

  • Pathogen challenge simultaneously induced hemocyanin, AMPs, and MKK4-p38-c-Jun cascade proteins in Penaeus vannamei.
  • PvHMC knockdown attenuated MKK4-p38-c-Jun cascade activation and consequently decreased AMP expression.
  • PvHMC interacts with PvMKK4 via its ARM repeat domain, modulating the p38 MAPK signaling pathway.

Conclusions:

  • Penaeid shrimp hemocyanin plays a critical role in innate immunity by modulating the MKK4-p38-c-Jun-mediated p38 MAPK signaling pathway.
  • The ARM repeat domain of PvHMC is essential for activating this pathway and enhancing antimicrobial peptide production.
  • This study reveals a novel mechanism of immune regulation in penaeid shrimp involving hemocyanin and MAPK signaling.
Keywords:
Cell biologyImmunology

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