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Cloning and analysis of transcripts and genes encoding fish-specific proteins related to PrP

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Abstract

We report cloning and tissue expression of transcripts of a fourth fish-specific gene (SPRNB) encoding a prion protein (PrP)-related protein (Shadoo2) from two species, Cyprinus carpio (carp) and Danio rerio (zebrafish), as well as gene or partial transcript sequences identified by in silico searches of public databases from Gasterosteus aculeatus (stickleback), Oryzias latipes (medaka fish) and Salmo salar (salmon). We also present an up-to-date summary of current knowledge of the other three PrP-related genes and transcripts (PrP-like protein, PrP1 and PrP2) encoded exclusively in fish genomes, including some additional transcripts we identified by in silico searches. We compare levels of protein-sequence conservation among the different genes within given fish species, and among given genes in different fish species, and analyse the gene structures and contexts (flanking genes) where genomic sequence is available. These analyses show remarkably high divergences of sequences and expression patterns for proteins in distant fish, such as Fugu and zebrafish, leaving open the question of how varied their functions may be.

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Abbreviations

EST:

Expressed sequence tag

FC:

Fold change

GPI:

Glycosylphosphatidylinositol

hpf:

Hours post fertilisation

PCR:

Polymerase chain reaction

PrP:

Prion protein

Sho:

Shadoo protein

Sho2:

Shadoo2 protein

RACE:

Rapid amplification of cDNA ends

RT-PCR:

Reverse transcriptase PCR

SPRNB:

Gene coding for Sho2 protein

TSE:

Transmissible spongiform encephalopathy

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Acknowledgements

T. Simonic is supported by EC grant QLK5-2002-00866 and J.E. Gready by the ANU IAS block grant. The authors thank Dr J. Ngai for providing the zebrafish brain cDNA library and Dr Gianni Ghezzi for his valuable technical support.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dipartimento di Patologia Animale, Igiene e Sanità Pubblica Veterinaria, Sezione di Biochimica e Fisiologia Veterinaria, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Celoria 10, 20133, Milan, Italy

    B. Strumbo, L. Sangiorgio, S. Ronchi & T. Simonic

  2. Computational Proteomics and Therapy Design Group, Division of Molecular Bioscience, John Curtin School of Medical Research, Australian National University, 334, Canberra, ACT, 2601, Australia

    J. E. Gready

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  1. B. Strumbo
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  2. L. Sangiorgio
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  3. S. Ronchi
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  4. J. E. Gready
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  5. T. Simonic
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Correspondence to T. Simonic.

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Strumbo, B., Sangiorgio, L., Ronchi, S. et al. Cloning and analysis of transcripts and genes encoding fish-specific proteins related to PrP. Fish Physiol Biochem 32, 339–353 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10695-006-9108-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10695-006-9108-3

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