First molluscan antimicrobial peptide hydramacin in Manila clam: molecular characterization and expression analysis

Abstract

Objective: To investigate molecular characterization and the immune responses of Manila clam hydramacin (Rp-hdmc).Methods: cDNA sequence of hydramacin was isolated from Manila clam transcriptome database. Molecular characterization of hydramacin cDNA was performed by BLAST and SWISS-MODEL bioinformatics programs. Tissue-specific expression and transcriptional regulation after Vibrio tapetis challenge was done by quantitative real time PCR. Results: Rp-hdmc has 291 bp open reading frame (ORF), encoding 97 amino acids with a mature hydramacin consisting of 77 amino acid residues. In un-challenged clam, Rp-hdmc was constitutively expressed in all tested tissues and the highest expression level was detected in gill. After pathogenic bacteria Vibrio tapetis challenge, Rp-hdmc mRNA was up-regulated in gill and hemocytes.Conclusions: We identified hydramacin cDNA (Rp-hdmc) from mollusk Manila clam that shows the characteristic features of hydramacin sequence. It has eight cysteine residues with four disulfide linkages, three helices and two β-strands in secondary structure. Expression results after V. tapetis challenges suggest that Rp-hdmc is involved in immune response against pathogenic bacteria. hydramacin cDNA was performed by BLAST and SWISS-MODEL bioinformatics programs. Tissue-specific expression and transcriptional regulation after Vibrio tapetis challenge was done by quantitative real time PCR. Results: Rp-hdmc has 291 bp open reading frame (ORF), encoding 97 amino acids with a mature hydramacin consisting of 77 amino acid residues. In un-challenged clam, Rp-hdmc was constitutively expressed in all tested tissues and the highest expression level was detected in gill. After pathogenic bacteria Vibrio tapetis challenge, Rp-hdmc mRNA was up-regulated in gill and hemocytes.Conclusions: We identified hydramacin cDNA (Rp-hdmc) from mollusk Manila clam that shows the characteristic features of hydramacin sequence. It has eight cysteine residues with four disulfide linkages, three helices and two β-strands in secondary structure. Expression results after V. tapetis challenges suggest that Rp-hdmc is involved in immune response against pathogenic bacteria.