Identification and characterization of multiple beta-glucan binding proteins in the Pacific oyster, Crassostrea gigas

Dev Comp Immunol. 2010 Apr;34(4):445-54. doi: 10.1016/j.dci.2009.12.003. Epub 2009 Dec 24.

Abstract

The present study reports on the characterization of two cDNAs coding beta-glucan binding proteins (betaGBPs), designated as Cg-betaGBP-1 and Cg-betaGBP-2, from the Pacific oyster, Crassostrea gigas. Cg-betaGBP-1 consists of 555 amino acid residues and possesses two possible integrin recognition sites. The other protein, Cg-betaGBP-2, is composed of 447 amino acid residues without integrin recognition sites. Domain structures of both Cg-betaGBPs are similar to other invertebrate betaGBPs, but phylogenetic positions and major expression tissues for these proteins are different. Cg-betaGBP-1 is expressed in circulatory hemocytes and Cg-betaGBP-2 in digestive glands. Functional assays using recombinant proteins revealed that Cg-betaGBP-2 enhanced the phenoloxidase (PO) activity of hemocyte suspensions under the presence of laminarin, but Cg-betaGBP-1 did not show this enhancement. It is suggested that Cg-betaGBPs in the Pacific oyster have evolved to obtain different immunological functions. Cg-betaGBP-1 possibly evolved for hemocyte-related functions through integrin, and Cg-betaGBP-2 for the PO activation system.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Carrier Proteins / genetics
  • Carrier Proteins / immunology
  • Carrier Proteins / metabolism*
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Cloning, Molecular
  • Crassostrea / physiology*
  • Digestive System / immunology
  • Digestive System / metabolism*
  • Evolution, Molecular
  • Gene Expression Profiling
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic / immunology
  • Glucans
  • Hemocytes / immunology
  • Hemocytes / metabolism*
  • Lectins / genetics
  • Lectins / immunology
  • Lectins / metabolism*
  • Monophenol Monooxygenase / genetics
  • Monophenol Monooxygenase / immunology
  • Monophenol Monooxygenase / metabolism*
  • Polysaccharides / metabolism
  • Protein Structure, Tertiary / genetics

Substances

  • Carrier Proteins
  • Glucans
  • Lectins
  • Polysaccharides
  • glucan-binding proteins
  • laminaran
  • Monophenol Monooxygenase