Antibacterial activity and mechanism of a type-I ubiquitin from the clam Ruditapes philippinarum

Yijing Han; Lizhu Chen; Dinglong Yang

doi:10.1016/j.jip.2021.107602

Antibacterial activity and mechanism of a type-I ubiquitin from the clam Ruditapes philippinarum

J Invertebr Pathol. 2021 Jul:183:107602. doi: 10.1016/j.jip.2021.107602. Epub 2021 May 5.

Authors

Yijing Han¹, Lizhu Chen², Dinglong Yang³

Affiliations

¹ Research and Development Center for Efficient Utilization of Coastal Bioresources, Yantai Institute of Coastal Zone Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Yantai 264003, PR China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, PR China.
² Shandong Marine Resource and Environment Research Institute, Yantai 264006, PR China.
³ Muping Coastal Environment Research Station, Yantai Institute of Coastal Zone Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Yantai 264003, PR China; Research and Development Center for Efficient Utilization of Coastal Bioresources, Yantai Institute of Coastal Zone Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Yantai 264003, PR China. Electronic address: dlyang@yic.ac.cn.

PMID: 33964303
DOI: 10.1016/j.jip.2021.107602

Abstract

In the present study, a ubiquitin (designated as RpUbi) was identified and characterized from clam Ruditapes philippinarum. Phylogenetic analysis strongly suggested that RpUbi was a member of the ubiquitin family. In non-stimulated clams, RpUbi transcripts were constitutively expressed in all examined tissues, especially in the gills and hemocytes. After Vibrio anguillarum challenge, expression of RpUbi mRNA in hemocytes was significantly up-regulated. Recombinant RpUbi (rRpUbi) showed high antibacterial activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Notably, membrane integrity and electrochemical assay indicated that rRpUbi could invade the inner layer. Moreover, DNA migration could be inhibited by rRpUbi in a concentration-dependent manner. In general, our results suggested that RpUbi played an important role in host defense against invading bacteria, perhaps through a DNA-binding process.

Keywords: Antibacterial activity; Bacteriostatic activity; Ruditapes philippinarum; Ubiquitin.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Animals
Anti-Bacterial Agents / chemistry
Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology*
Bivalvia / chemistry*
Bivalvia / microbiology
Ubiquitin / chemistry
Ubiquitin / pharmacology*

Substances

Anti-Bacterial Agents
Ubiquitin