Cloning, Exogenous Expression and Function Analysis of Interferon-γ from Gadus macrocephalus
Jielan Jiang1,2, Jie Gu3, Aijun Zhan4
1Yazhou Bay Innovation Institute, Hainan Tropical Ocean University, Sanya 572022, China.
Viruses
|October 27, 2022
Summary
This study characterizes Gadus macrocephalus interferon gamma (GmIFN-γ), demonstrating its antiviral and immune-stimulating properties in fish. GmIFN-γ shows significant potential for enhancing fish immunity against viral infections.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Molecular Biology
- Fish Science
Background:
- Interferon gamma (IFN-γ) is crucial for immune regulation in vertebrates, but its function at the protein level in fish remains less understood.
- This study focuses on characterizing IFN-γ from Gadus macrocephalus (GmIFN-γ) to elucidate its role in fish immunity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize the bioinformatics, expression, antiviral activity, and immune regulatory functions of GmIFN-γ.
- To investigate the potential of GmIFN-γ as an immunostimulant in fish.
Main Methods:
- Bioinformatic analysis of GmIFN-γ cDNA and protein sequence.
- Prokaryotic (E. coli BL21) and yeast (Pichia pastoris) expression of GmIFN-γ.
- Antiviral assays against Spring viremia of carp virus.
- In vitro expression in EPC cell lines and in vivo oral administration to zebrafish.
Main Results:
- GmIFN-γ cDNA codes for 189 amino acids with conserved motifs; it shows high homology to Atlantic cod IFN-γ.
- Expressed GmIFN-γ exhibits significant antiviral activity and can induce MHC class I chain-related protein A (MICA) expression in fish cells.
- Oral administration of yeast-expressed GmIFN-γ upregulates zebrafish IFN-γ transcripts, indicating immune stimulation.
Conclusions:
- GmIFN-γ is a functional interferon with potent antiviral and immune-regulatory capabilities in fish.
- The findings suggest GmIFN-γ's potential application in aquaculture for enhancing fish disease resistance.
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