cDNA cloning and sequence analysis of hemocyanin in Fenneropenaeus chinensis

Abstract:

A hemocyanin gene (FCHc) was cloned from hepatopancreas of Chinese shrimp Fenneropenaeus chinensis by Rapid Amplification Complementary DNA Ends (RACE) method. The full length cDNA of FCHc consists of 2 161bp with a 2 034 bp Open Reading Frame (ORF)，which encoded 678 amino acids，and the predicted molecular mass was 77.59kDa. It showed 82% and 85% homology with those of Litopenaeus vannamei and Marsupenaeus japonicas. The real-time PCR results showed that the expression level of FCHc in hepatopancreas was the highest among seven studied tissues．Real-time PCR analysis showed that the expression of FCHc was up-regulated distinctly in the hepatopanereas of shrimp when they were challenged by Vibrio anguillarum and white spot syndrome virus (WSSV). FCHc showed different expression profiles in the hepatopancreas during V. anguillarum or WSSV virus infection．The results implied that FCHc might play an important role in shrimp immune system．