Ontogeny of IgM-producing cells in the mandarin fish Siniperca chuatsi identified by in situ hybridisation

The ontogeny of IgM-producing cells was studied in juvenile mandarin fish Simperca chuatsi, an important fish in China's aquaculture sector. The IgM-producing cells were localised through in situ hybridisation with a probe complementary to the Ig mu-chain in lymphoid-related tissues, including head kidney, spleen, thymus, intestine and gills. In head kidney, transcripts of Ig mu were first detected at 20 days post-hatching (dph) with a few positive signals. and the number of IgM-producing cells increased obviously from 39 dph onwards. At 136 dph, a large amount of positive cells were observed in the entire organ with clusters of these cells located around the blood vessels. In spleen, IgM-producing cells were found from 26 dph onwards, followed by an increase until 67 dph: clusters of positive cells were also detected around blood vessels at 102 dph. In thymus, IgM-producing cells were first observed at 39 dph; thereafter, no obvious increase was detected until 78 dph. The positive cells in thymus were distributed mainly in the outer zone of thymus. A few IgM-producing cells were still observed in thymus of 1-year-old mandarin fish. IgM-producing cells were not detected in the intestine until 87 dph, with several discrete positively stained cells distributed in the lamina propria. IgM-producing cells, scattered mainly in primary gill filaments around blood vessels, were detected in gills from 90 dph. As in other teleosts, these results indicated that the head kidney appears to be the primary organ for IgM production in mandarin fish, and IgM-producing cells exist in all organs examined in the present study, implying their lymphoid role in fish. In addition, it is suggested that vaccination after 20 dph may be much more effective in mandarin fish. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Distribution of IgM, IgD and IgZ in mandarin fish, Siniperca chuatsi lymphoid tissues and their transcriptional changes after Flavobacterium columnare stimulation

The gene sequences of three different immunoglobulin (Ig) heavy chains, namely IgM, IgD and IgZ, were cloned from mandarin fish (Siniperca chuatsi) recently. In this study the distribution of these three kinds of Ig-producing cells in lymphoid-related tissues as head kidney, spleen, gill and intestine were investigated by using in situ hybridization, and their transcriptional changes were also analyzed by quantitative real-time PCR during 8 weeks after immunization. IgM-producing cells could be detected obviously and abundantly in all the tissues examined. A few numbers of IgD and IgZ positive cells were both detected in head kidney and spleen. IgZ positive cells could be detected in gill moderately while IgD showed negative results, otherwise no IgD or IgZ positive cells could be detected in intestine. After stimulated with bacterial pathogen Flavobacterium columnare G(4), the transcripts of these three Ig genes exhibited quite different kinetics. Significantly increased transcription of IgM gene was observed in almost all the tissues examined especially in boosted group. In contrast with IgM, seldom strong increase was examined for IgD and IgZ genes. For IgD, it seemed that the first injection could stimulate the immune response easier, since in almost all the tissues significant increase was detected at 1 or 2 weeks after injection. For IgZ, boosted injection could not enlarge the up-regulation of gene expression of first injection. This is the first case to report the transcriptional kinetics of three Ig genes in teleost after bacterin immunization. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Metallothionein-2 gene from the mandarin fish Siniperca chuatsi: cDNA cloning, tissue expression, and immunohistochemical localization

The metallothionein-2 (MT-2) gene was isolated from the mandarin fish, one of the most important industrial aquatic animals in China, by using rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE). The deduced amino acid sequence of MT-2 comprised 60 amino acids and showed approximately 62.3% identity to human metallothionein. Its promoter region was amplified by thermal asymmetric interlaced polymerase chain reaction (TAIL-PCR). The MT-2 gene consists of 3 exons and 2 introns, extending approximately 900 bp of genomic sequence. Phylogenetic analysis clearly demonstrated that MT-2 formed a clade with fish metallothionein. The promoter region contained 5 putative metal-regulatory elements (MREs) and 1 TATA box. Real-time quantitative RT-PCR analysis revealed that MT-2 transcripts were significantly increased in the brain and gills and were stable in the muscles, liver, and trunk kidney in Cd2+-stimulated fish. Western blotting analysis demonstrated that the protein of the MT-2 gene was expressed mainly in the gills, liver, heart, trunk kidney, muscle, and intestine; it was weakly detected in the brain and head kidney. Moreover, the MT-2 protein was immunohistochemically detected in the cytoplasm in the liver and trunk kidney. All the above results revealed that the mandarin fish MT-2 would be a useful biomarker for metal pollution. (C) 2008 Published by Elsevier Inc.

TRAIL in the mandarin fish Siniperca chuatsi: Gene and its apoptotic effect in HeLa cells

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) is one of the TNF superfamily members, participating in many biological processes including cell proliferation and apoptotic death. In this study, a TRAIL gene was cloned from a perciform fish, the mandarin fish Siniperca chuatsi, a major cultured fish in China's aquaculture, and is named as SCTRAIL for S. chuatsi TRAIL. The full-length cDNA of SCTRAIL is 1359 bp, encoding a 283-amino-acid protein. This deduced protein contains the CYS231, a 23-mer fragment of transmembrane region, a glycosylation site and a TNF family signature, all of which are conserved among TRAIL members. SCTRAIL gene consists of six exons, with five intervening introns, spaced over approximately 9 kb of genomic sequence. Southern blotting demonstrated that the SCTRAIL gene is present as a single copy in mandarin fish genome. A 620 bp promoter region obtained by genome walking contains a number of putative transcription factor binding sites, such as Oct-1, Sp-1, NF-1, RAP-1, C/EBPaLp, NF-kappa B and AP-1. The SCTRAIL is constitutively expressed in all the analyzed tissues, as revealed by RT-PCR, which is confirmed by Western blotting analysis using polyclonal antibody against bacteria-derived recombinant SCTRAIL protein. As an apoptosis-inducing ligand, the overexpression of SCTRAIL but not the mutant SCTRAIL-C203S in HeLa cells induced changes characteristic of apoptosis, including chromatin condensation, nucleus fragmentation, DNA ladder, and increase of sub-G0/G1 cells in FACS analysis. (c) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Impact of environmental and innate factors on the food habit of Chinese perch Siniperca chuatsi (Basilewsky) (Percichthyidae)

Laboratory and field investigations were conducted to study the food habit of Chinese perch Siniperca chuatsi (Basilewsky) from first feeding through adult stage. Only fish larvae were consumed by Chinese perch larvae (2-21 days from hatching), and the presence of zooplankton did not have any significant effect on their survival rate. The ability of Chinese perch to feed on zooplankton is clearly limited by some innate factor. Instead of gill rakers, Chinese perch larvae have well-developed sharp teeth at the first feeding stage, and are well adapted to the piscivorous feeding habit unique to the larvae of Chinese perch, e.g. they bite and ingest the tails of other fish larvae. At the first feeding stage (2 days from hatching), daily rations were both very low, either in light or complete darkness. Although early-staged Chinese perch larvae (7-17 days from hatching) could feed in complete darkness, their daily rations were always significantly higher in light than in complete darkness. Late-staged Chinese perch larvae (21 days from hatching) were able to feed in complete darkness as well as in light, similar to the case of Chinese perch yearlings. Chinese perch yearlings (total length, 14-16 cm) consumed prey fish only and refused shrimp when visual cues were available (in light), but they consumed both prey when visual cues were not available (in complete darkness), suggesting that prey consumption by Chinese perch yearlings is affected by their sensory modality in predation. Both prey were found in the stomachs of similar-sized Chinese perch (total length, 14-32 cm) from their natural habitat, suggesting that shrimp are consumed by Chinese perch at night. Prey selection of Chinese perch with a length >38 cm, which consumed only fish in the field, appears to be based upon prey size instead of prey type. These results suggest that although environmental factors (e.g. light intensity) affect prey detection by Chinese perch, this fish is anatomically and behaviourally predisposed to prey on live fish from first feeding. This makes it a difficult fish to cultivate using conventional feeds.

Gene structure of an antimicrobial peptide from mandarin fish, Siniperca chuatsi (Basilewsky), suggests that moronecidins and pleurocidins belong in one family: the piscidins

The gene of piscidin, an antimicrobial peptide, has been cloned from the mandarin fish, Siniperca chuatsi. From the first transcription initiation site, the mandarin fish piscidin gene extends 1693 nucleotides to the end of the 3' untranslated region and contains four exons and three introns. A predicted 79-residue prepropeptide consists of three domains: a signal peptide (22 aa), a mature peptide (22 aa) and a C-terminal prodomain (35 aa). The shortage of XQQ motif in the prodomain of mandarin fish piscidin and the similar gene structure between moronecidins (piscidins) and pleurocidins may indicate that they are derived from the same ancestor gene. We thus suggest that piscidin should be used as a terminology for these antimicrobial peptides in the future. The mandarin fish piscidin mRNA was abundant in intestine, spleen, pronephros and kidney analysed by real-time polymerase chain reaction. After stimulation with lipopoly saccharides (LPS), a marked increase in transcripts was observed in most tissues, indicating that piscidin is not only a constitutively expressed molecule, but also has an increased response to bacterial infection. The synthetic, amidated mandarin fish piscidin exhibited different antimicrobial activity against different fish bacterial pathogens, especially against species of Aeromonas, which may to certain extent reflect the pathogenicity of these bacteria.

Gene structure and transcription of IRF-1 and IRF-7 in the mandarin fish Siniperca chuatsi

The genes of IRF-1 and IRF-7 have been cloned from the mandarin fish (Siniperca chuatsi). The IRF-1 gene has 4919 nucleotides (nt) and contains 10exons and 9introns, with an open reading frame (ORF) of 903 ntencoding301 aa. The IRF-7 gene has 6057 nt and also contains 10exons and 9introns, with an ORF of 1308 nt encoding 436 aa. The IRF-1 and IRF-7 genes have only one copy each in the genome. The transcription of IRF-1 and IRF-7 in different organs was analyzed by real-time PCR, and both molecules were constitutively expressed. The IRF-I and IRF-7 mRNAs were abundant in gill, spleen, kidney and pronephros. The temporal transcriptional changes for IRF-1, IRF-7 and Mx were investigated within 48 h after poly I: C stimulation in liver, gill, spleen and pronephros. An increased transcription was detected for IRF-1 and IRF-7 12 h post-stimulation, being earlier than the transcription of Mx protein; however, IRF-1 and IRF-7 transcription decreased while the Mx protein was stable at 48 h post-stimulation. (c) 2007 Published by Elsevier B.V.

Isolation and characterization of 18 polymorphic microsatellite markers in Chinese mandarin fish Siniperca chuatsi (Basilewsky)

Eighteen microsatellite markers were isolated and characterized using an enrichment protocol in the Chinese mandarin fish Siniperca chuatsi (Basilewsky), a commercially important piscivorous fish in China. Out of 48 pairs of primers designed, 18 loci exhibited polymorphism with three to six alleles (mean 4.4 alleles/locus) and average observed heterozygosity ranged from 0.633 to 0.833 (mean 0.748) in a test population from Dongting Lake of China. Except for two loci, all other 16 loci were in the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. These markers would be useful for such studies as population genetics, ecology and selective breeding of the Chinese mandarin fish in future.

Gene structure and transcription of IRF-2 in the mandarin fish Siniperca chuatsi with the finding of alternative transcripts and microsatellite in the coding region

The gene of interferon regulatory factor-2 (IRF-2) has been cloned from the mandarin fish (Siniperca chuatsi). The IRF-2 gene has 6,418 nucleotides (nt) and contains eight exons and seven introns, encoding two mRNAs. The two IRF-2 mRNAs each contained an open reading frame of 873 nt, which both translate into the same 291 amino acids but differed in their 5' untranslated region: one mRNA was transcribed initially from the exon 1 bypassing exon 2, while the other was transcribed from the exon 2. The microsatellites (CA repeats) could be found in the carboxyl terminal region of mandarin fish IRF-2, which result in the truncated form molecules. The microsatellites' polymorphism was investigated, and eight alleles were found in 16 individuals. The microsatellites were also examined in IRF-2 of several freshwater perciform fishes. The transcription of the IRF-2 in different tissues with or without poly inosine-cytidine stimulation was analyzed by real-time PCR, and the constitutive transcription of both molecules could be detected in all the tissues examined.

Histological and cytological studies on the developing thymus of mandarin fish Siniperca chuatsi (Perciformes : Teleostei)

The thymus of the mandarin fish, Siniperca chuatsi, was examined by light and transmission electron microscopy to understand its formation and cellular composition. Larvae of the mandarin fish were collected and sectioned from 1 to 35 days post-hatching (dph). On dph 7 the thymus was packed with lymphocytes. From 12 dph onward, mucous cells were observed on the epithelial layer; from 23 dph, three zones could be differentiated in the thymic parenchyma. The thymus was connected with the extension of the third, fourth and fifth branchial pouches throughout early development, remaining in a superficial position in the adult S. chuatsi. In the thymus of the adult fish, thymic epithelial cells (TECs) characteristic of tonofilaments were observed, with limiting TECs (LECs) found in subcapsular, subseptal, perivascular and nurse-like TECs containing viable intact lymphocytes inside their vacuoles. In addition, three kinds of granulocytes were observed throughout the thymus, and an incomplete blood-thymus barrier was found in the inner zone. Other cell components such as cystic cells, macrophages and plasma cells, were also described in the thymus of the adult S. chuatsi. The thymus development in mandarin fish agrees, to some extent, with the ontogenetic patterns observed in other fish species.

Gene structure of goose-type lysozyme in the mandarin fish Siniperca chuatsi with analysis on the lytic activity of its recombinant in Escherichia coli

A goose-type lysozyme (g-lysozyme) gene has been cloned from the mandarin fish (Siniperca chuatsi), with its recombinant protein expressed in Escherichia coli. From the first transcription initiation site, the mandarin fish g-lysozyme gene extends 1307 nucleotides to the end of the 3' untranslated region, and it contains 5 exons and 4 introns. The open reading frame of the glysozyme transcript has 582 nucleotides which encode a 194 amino acid peptide. The 5' flanking region of mandarin fish glysozyme gene shows several common transcriptional factor binding sites when compared with that from Japanese flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus). The recombinant mandarin fish g-lysozyme was expressed in E. coli by using pET-32a vector, and the purified recombinant g-lysozyme shows lytic activity against Micrococcus lysodeikticus. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V All rights reserved.

Molecular cloning of the viperin gene and its promoter region from the mandarin fish Siniperca chuatsi

A viperin gene has been cloned from the mandarin fish (Siniperca chuatsi). From the first transcription initiation site, the mandarin fish viperin gene extends 3163 nucleotides to the end of the 3' untranslated region, and it contains six exons and five introns. The open reading frame of the viperin transcript has 1062 nucleotides which encode a 354 amino acid peptide. The amino acid sequence of mandarin fish viperin shows high identities with its homologues in teleosts and mammals except for the first 70 amino acids. A characteristic feature in the viperin promoter region was the presence of five putative ICSBP (IRF8) binding sites and one IRFI binding site. The viperin gene expressed mainly in lymphoid tissues before stimulation, but its expression can be examined in almost all the organs investigated after stimulation with virus or Poly I:C. The expression pattern and promoter sequence may be considered as the indirect evidence that the transcription of viperin is regulated by interferons or interferon induced genes. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Characterization of cDNA encoding immunoglobulin light chain of the Mandarin fish (Siniperca chuatsi)

Immunoglobulin light chain cDNA sequences of a perciform fish, the mandarin fish Siniperca chuatsi were amplified from head kidney mRNA by reverse transcription (RT)-PCR and RACE methods using degenerated primer and gene specific ones. In cDNA sequences of the VL region, nucleotide exchanges were present mainly within CDRs, although a lesser degree of variability was also found in FRs. Moreover, the length of CDRI and CDR3 in the mandarin fish is shorter than in most other fish species. In the middle of S. chuatsi CL region, a microsatellite sequence (AGC)(6-8) was found, which is also present in another perciform species, the spotted wolffish (Anarhichas minor). The comparison of amino acid sequence of the mandarin fish CL domain with those of other vertebrates showed the highest degree of similarity of 94.5% to the spotted wolffish, while the similarity with rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) Ig L1 (62.7%) and channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) Ig LG (55.9%) isotypes is also higher. However, there is only 50% identity in the VL regions between the mandarin fish and the wolffish. The sequence similarity of the mandarin fish CL domain with those of higher vertebrate did not readily allow it to be classified as kappa or lambda isotype. The phylogenetic analyses also demonstrated that the CL genes of the mandarin fish and most other teleost fish cluster as a separate branch out of the mammal kappa and lambda branches. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Resting metabolism and heat increment of feeding in mandarin fish (Siniperca chuatsi) and Chinese snakehead (Channa argus)

Resting metabolism was measured in immature mandarin fish Siniperca chuatsi weighing 42.1-510.2 g and Chinese snakehead Channa argus weighing 41.5-510.3 g at 10, 15, 20, 25, 30 and 35 degreesC. Heat increment of feeding was measured in mandarin fish weighing 202.0 (+/-14.0) g and snakehead weighing 200.8 (+/-19.3) g fed swamp leach Misgurnus anguillicaudatus at 1% body weight per day at 28 degreesC. In both species, weight exponent in the power relationship between resting metabolism and body weight was not affected by temperature. The relationship between resting metabolism and temperature could be described by a power function. The temperature exponent was 1.39 in mandarin fish and 2.10 in snakehead (P < 0.05), indicating that resting metabolism in snakehead increased with temperature at a faster rate than in mandarin fish. Multiple regression models were used to describe the effects of body weight (W, g) and temperature (T, C) on the resting metabolism (R-s, mg O-2/h): In R-s = - 5.343 + 0.772 In W + 1.387 In T for the mandarin fish and In R-s = -7.863 + 0.801 ln W + 2.104 In T for the Chinese snakehead. The proportion of food energy channelled to heat increment was 8.7% in mandarin fish and 6.8% in snakehead. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.