PUBLICATION

Molecular cloning, functional characterization and phylogenetic analysis of B-cell activating factor in zebrafish (Danio rerio)

Authors
Liang, Z., Kong, Y., Luo, C., Shen, Y., and Zhang, S.
ID
ZDB-PUB-100420-13
Date
2010
Source
Fish & shellfish immunology   29(2): 233-240 (Journal)
Registered Authors
Keywords
BAFF, cDNA cloning, Characterization, Evolution, Phylogeny, B-cell survival, 3D structure, Zebrafish (Danio rerio)
MeSH Terms
  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • B-Cell Activating Factor/chemistry
  • B-Cell Activating Factor/genetics*
  • B-Cell Activating Factor/immunology*
  • Base Sequence
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Cloning, Molecular
  • Gene Expression Profiling
  • Gene Expression Regulation*
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Models, Molecular
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Phylogeny*
  • Protein Structure, Tertiary
  • Recombinant Proteins/immunology
  • SUMO-1 Protein/immunology
  • Sequence Alignment
  • Zebrafish/classification*
  • Zebrafish/genetics
  • Zebrafish/immunology
  • Zebrafish/physiology*
PubMed
20382231 Full text @ Fish Shellfish Immunol.
Abstract
B-cell activating factor (BAFF), belonging to the TNF family, is a critical cytokine for B-cell survival, proliferation, maturation and differentiation. In the present study we cloned the cDNA of zebrafish (Danio rerio) BAFF (designated zBAFF) by reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR). The open reading frame (ORF) of zBAFF consists of 807 bases encoding a protein of 268 amino acids. The deduced amino acid sequence of its cDNA possessed the TNF family signature, a transmembrane domain, and three cysteine residues, which are the typical characteristics of TNF gene in mammals and birds. Phylogenetic analysis exhibits the highest identity score 67.6, 61.4 and 66.9% with the rainbow trout, tetraodon and salmon counterparts, respectively. The identity to avian and mammalian BAFFs ranges from 49.7 to 53.8%. Recombinant soluble zBAFF (zsBAFF) was fused with a small ubiquitin-related modifier gene (SUMO) to enhance the soluble expression level in Escherichia coli BL21 (DE3). The resulting fused protein SUMO-zsBAFF was highly expressed in BL21 (DE3) with a molecular weight of 38kDa. The fusing protein was purified using metal chellate affinity chromatography (Ni-NTA) and cleaved by a SUMO-specific protease, then confirmed by SDS-PAGE and Western blotting analysis. In vitro, the MTT assay indicated that the purified zsBAFF as well as SUMO-zsBAFF proteins were able to promote spleen lymphocyte survival in a dose-dependent manner also to co-stimulate the proliferation of mammalian B-cells with anti-IgM. Thus, the fusion protein represents a readily obtainable source of biologically active zsBAFF that may prove useful in further studies on zebrafish BAFF and its receptors.
Genes / Markers
Figures
Expression
Phenotype
Mutations / Transgenics
Human Disease / Model
Sequence Targeting Reagents
Fish
Antibodies
Orthology
Engineered Foreign Genes
Mapping