Molecular and functional characterization of tilapia DDX41 in IFN regulation

Zhen Gan; Jun Cheng; Jing Hou; Hongli Xia; Wenjie Chen; Liqun Xia; Pin Nie; Yishan Lu

doi:10.1016/j.fsi.2020.02.031

Molecular and functional characterization of tilapia DDX41 in IFN regulation

Fish Shellfish Immunol. 2020 Apr:99:386-391. doi: 10.1016/j.fsi.2020.02.031. Epub 2020 Feb 17.

Authors

Zhen Gan¹, Jun Cheng², Jing Hou¹, Hongli Xia², Wenjie Chen¹, Liqun Xia², Pin Nie³, Yishan Lu⁴

Affiliations

¹ Shenzhen Institute of Guangdong Ocean University, Shenzhen, 518120, China; State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430072, China; College of Fishery, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang, 524025, China; Guangdong Provincial Engineering Research Center for Aquatic Animal Health Assessment, Shenzhen Public Service Platform for Evaluation of Marine Economic Animal Seedings, Shenzhen, 518120, China; Shenzhen Dapeng New District Science and Technology Innovation Service Center, Shenzhen, 518120, China.
² Shenzhen Institute of Guangdong Ocean University, Shenzhen, 518120, China; College of Fishery, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang, 524025, China; Guangdong Provincial Engineering Research Center for Aquatic Animal Health Assessment, Shenzhen Public Service Platform for Evaluation of Marine Economic Animal Seedings, Shenzhen, 518120, China.
³ State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430072, China; School of Marine Science and Engineering, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, Shandong Province, 266109, China. Electronic address: pinnie@ihb.ac.cn.
⁴ Shenzhen Institute of Guangdong Ocean University, Shenzhen, 518120, China; College of Fishery, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang, 524025, China; Guangdong Provincial Engineering Research Center for Aquatic Animal Health Assessment, Shenzhen Public Service Platform for Evaluation of Marine Economic Animal Seedings, Shenzhen, 518120, China. Electronic address: fishdis@163.com.

PMID: 32081808
DOI: 10.1016/j.fsi.2020.02.031

Abstract

DEAD-box helicase 41 (DDX41) is a key cytosolic DNA sensor playing critical roles in the regulation of type I IFN responses, and their functions have been well-characterized in mammals. However, little information is available regarding the function of fish DDX41. In this study, a DDX41 gene, named On-DDX41, was identified in Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus. The predicted protein of On-DDX41 contains several structural features known in DDX41, including conserved DEADc and HELICc domains, and a conserved sequence "Asp-Glu-Ala-Asp (D-E-A-D)". On-DDX41 gene was constitutively expressed in all tissues examined, with the highest expression level observed in liver and muscle, and was inducible after poly(I:C) stimulation. Moreover, the overexpression of On-DDX41 can elicit a strong activation of both zebrafish IFN1 and IFN3 promoter in fish cells treated with poly(dA:dT). The present study thus contributes to a better understanding of the functional properties of DDX41 in fish.

Keywords: Cytosolic DNA sensors; DDX41; Oreochromis niloticus; Promoter activity; Type I interferon.

MeSH terms

Amino Acid Sequence
Animals
Cloning, Molecular
DEAD-box RNA Helicases / genetics
DEAD-box RNA Helicases / metabolism*
Fish Proteins / genetics
Fish Proteins / metabolism*
Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic / immunology*
Interferons / genetics
Interferons / metabolism*
Phylogeny
Tilapia / metabolism*

Substances

Fish Proteins
Interferons
DEAD-box RNA Helicases