A corticotropin-releasing hormone binding protein (CRH-BP) gene from the intertidal copepod, Tigriopus japonicus

Gen Comp Endocrinol. 2008 Aug;158(1):54-60. doi: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2008.05.002. Epub 2008 May 10.

Abstract

The corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) plays a critical role in stress-response regulation in vertebrates. The activity of CRH depends on CRH-binding protein (CRH-BP). CRH-BP is considered to play a chaperoning role in stress. Limited information mainly from the insects is available on the molecular structure and functions of invertebrate CRH and CRH-BP. We cloned and sequenced a CRH-BP gene from the intertidal copepod, Tigriopus japonicus which was expressed at all the stages of development. Molecular phylogenetic analysis showed that T. japonicus CRH-BP was closely related to CRH-BP of honeybee and other insects. The highest level of CRH-BP transcripts was expressed in adult males followed by nauplius stage 1. The expression of CRH-BP was upregulated when T. japonicus was subjected to temperature or salinity stress. This study demonstrates that CRH-BP in T. japonicus might play a role in stress-response. However, establishing such a role demands further studies on CRH-BP from other invertebrates and their expression under stress.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Base Sequence
  • Carrier Proteins / genetics*
  • Cloning, Molecular
  • Copepoda / genetics*
  • Copepoda / growth & development
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental
  • Male
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Phylogeny
  • RNA, Messenger / analysis
  • Sequence Homology, Amino Acid
  • Stress, Physiological / genetics

Substances

  • Carrier Proteins
  • RNA, Messenger
  • corticotropin releasing factor-binding protein