Meeting Abstract

P3.133  Sunday, Jan. 6  Molecular characterization and expression of crustin-like protein in the Morotoge shrimp, Pandalopsis japonica AH RAN, K.*; HYUN-WOO, K.*; Department of Marine Biology, Pukyong National Univ., Busan 608-737, Rebublic of Korea; Department of Marine Biology, Pukyong National Univ., Busan 608-737, Rebublic of Korea tass5910@gmail.com

Crustin is cationic cysteine-rich antibacterial polypeptides in decapod crustaceans that contain a characteristic four-disulphide core-containing whey acidic protein (WAP) domain at the C-terminus. Crustins are classified under 3 types as domain organization between the signal sequences and the WAP domain. As results of EST sequencing analysis and typical cloning strategy, we obtained total 23 putative crustin-like genes. Based on the structural and phylogenetic analysis, Paj-crustins were further classified into three subgroups. In order to study expression pattern of crustins, end-point RT-PCR was carried out several tissues including hemocyte, gill, epidermis, brain. Recombinat crustins were constructed to compare antimicrobial activity using the prokaryotic expression system. The recombinant crustins were active against Gram-negative bacteria and Gram-positive bacteria. In order to identify the determinant for antimicrobial activity, mutants were constructed and their acitivities were also measured. These results expanded our knowledge about the information of crustacean innate immunity.