Molecular cloning and characterization of crucian carp (Carassius auratus L.) interferon regulatory factor 7

Interferon (IFN) can induce an antiviral state via interferon-regulatory transcription factors (IRFs), which bind to and control genes directed by the interferon-stimulated response element (ISRE). Here we describe a fish IRF, termed CaIRF7, cloned from a subtractive cDNA library which is constructed with mRNAs obtained from crucian carp (Carassius auratus L.) blastulae embryonic (CAB) cells infected by UV-inactivated GCHV and mock-infected cells. CaIRF7 cDNA was found to be 1816 bp in length, with a 42 bp 5' UTR and a 508 bp 3' UTR. The open reading frame translates into 421 amino acids in which a DNA-binding domain (DBD) containing the repeated tryptophan motif and IRFs association domain have been identified. Like chicken GgIRF3, CaIRF7 was most similar to mammalian IRF7 with 27 to 30% identity overall and some 37% identity in their DBDs. A single transcript of 1.9 kb was detected in virally induced CAB cells by virtual Northern blotting. RT-PCR analysis revealed a wide tissue distribution of CaIRF7 constitutive expression, with detectable transcript in non-infected CAB cells and various tissues of healthy crucian carp. In addition, CaIRF7 expression was differentially increased by stimulation of the CAB cells with active GCHV, UV-inactivated GCHV or CAB IFN, indicating that the activation of CaIRF7 was directly regulated by IFN. (C) 2003 Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Genetic heterogeneity and ploidy level analysis among different gynogenetic clones of the polyploid gibel carp

Background: Some triploid and tetraploid clones have been identified in the gynogenetic gibel carp, Carassius auratus gibelio Bloch, by karyotypic and cytologic analyses over many years. Further, 5-20% males and karyotypic diversity have been found among their natural and artificial populations. However, the DNA contents and the relation to their ploidy level and chromosome numbers have not been ascertained, and whether normal meiosis occurs in spermatogenesis needs to be determined in the different clones. Methods: The sampled blood cells or sperms were mixed with blood cells from chicken or individual gibel carp and fixed in 70% pre-cooled ethanol overnight at 4degreesC. The mixed cell pellets were washed 2-3 times in 1x phosphate buffered saline and then resuspended in the solution containing 0.5% pepsin and 0.1 M HCl. DNA was stained with propidium iodide solution (40 mug/mL) containing 4 kU/ml RNase. The measurements of DNA contents were performed with Phoenix Flow Systems. Results: Triploid clones A, E, F, and P had almost equal DNA content, but triploid clone D had greater DNA content than did the other four triploid clones. DNA content of clone M (7.01 +/- 0.15 pg/nucleus) was almost equal to the DNA content of clone D (5-38 +/- 0.06 pg/nucleus) plus the DNA content of common carp sperm (1.64 +/- 0.02 pg/nucleus). The DNA contents of sperms from clones A, P, and D were half of their blood cells, suggesting that normal meiosis occurs in spermatogenesis. Conclusions: Flow cytometry is a powerful method to analyze genetic heterogeneity and ploidy level among different gynogenetic clones of polyploid gibel carp. Through this study, four questions have been answered. (a) The DNA content correlation among the five triploid clones and one multiple tetraploid clone was revealed in the gibel carp, and the contents increased with not only the ploidy level but also the chromosome number. (b) Mean DNA content was 0.052 pg in six extra chromosomes of clone D, which was higher than that of each chromosome in clones A, E, F, and P (about 0.032 pg/ chromosome). This means that the six extra chromosomes are larger chromosomes. (c) Normal meiosis occurred during spermatogenesis of the gibel carp, because DNA contents of the sperms from clones A, P, and D were almost half of that in their blood cells. (d) Multiple tetraploid clone M (7.01 +/- 0.15 pg/nucleus) contained the complete genome of clone D (5.38 +/- 0.06 pg/nucleus) and the genome of common carp sperm (1.64 +/- 0.02 pg/nucleus). Cytometry Part A 56A:46-52, 2003. (C) 2003 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Genome segment S8 of grass carp hemorrhage virus encodes a virion protein

The complete nucleotide sequence of the genome segment S8 of grass carp hemorrhage virus (GCHV) was determined from cDNA corresponding to the viral genomic RNA. It is 1,287 nucleotides in length and contains a large open reading frame that could encode a protein of 409 amino acids with a predicted molecular mass of 44 kD. The S8 was expressed using the pET fusion protein vector and detected by Western blotting analysis using the chicken egg IgY against intact GCHV particles, indicating that S8 encodes a virion protein. Amino acid sequence comparisons revealed that the protein encoded by S8 is closely related to protein alpha2 of mammalian reovirus, suggesting that the deduced protein of S8 is an inner capsid protein. Copyright (C) 2001 S. Karger AG, Basel.

Molecular characterization and expression of the M6 gene of grass carp hemorrhage virus (GCHV), an aquareovirus - Brief report

7The complete nucleotide sequence of M6 gene of grass carp hemorrhage virus (GCHV) was determined. It is 2039 nucleotides in length and contains a single large open reading frame that could encode a protein of 648 amino acids with predicted molecular mass of 68.7 kDa. Amino acid sequence comparison revealed that the protein encoded by GCHV M6 is closely related to the protein mul of mammalian reovirus. The M6 gene, encoding the major outer-capsid protein, was expressed using the pET fusion protein vector in Escherichia coli and detected by Western blotting using chicken anti-GCHV immunoglobulin (IgY). The result indicates that the protein encoded by M6 may share a putative Asn-42-Pro-43 proteolytic cleavage site with mul.

藏鸡和姬鼠属(Apodemus )系统进化中的比较基因组学研究

在过去的十几年时间里，利用不同的分子标记促进了分子生态学和群 体遗传学的较大发展，其中线粒体DNA 和微卫星DNA 分析在分子生态学 研究中得到了最为广泛的应用，多核基因分子标记也越来越受到人们的关 注。本文采用了比较基因组学方法来研究了藏鸡(Tibetan Chickens)和姬鼠 属(Apodemus)的系统进化，对藏鸡的研究主要是为了解决藏鸡的系统进化 地位及其线粒体基因组的进化特征；对姬鼠属的研究目的在于发展建立一 种崭新的研究野生动物系统进化和生物地理的比较基因组学手段。主要结 果描述如下： (1)藏鸡(Tibetan Chickens)线粒体全基因组序列的测序和分析 通过利用PCR 扩增，测序，拼接，获得藏鸡线粒体全基因组序列并进 行数据分析处理。藏鸡线粒体全基因组序列全长16783bp，共有13 个蛋白 质编码基因、2 个rRNA 基因、22 个tRNA 基因和1 个D-loop 区。模拟电 子酶切结果显示，藏鸡DraI 酶的酶切结果和其他家鸡及红原鸡的酶切结果 都相同。基于D-loop 区全序列和13 个蛋白质编码基因序列，采用N-J 算 法与原鸡属4 个种，3 个亚种和3 个家鸡品系构建系统进化树：初步确定 藏鸡起源于红原鸡，与家鸡中的来航鸡、白洛克鸡亲缘关系最近，但是藏 鸡的进化与来航鸡、白洛克鸡这两个家鸡品系又显得相对独立。推测可能 原因是藏鸡的祖先在进入高原以后处于相对封闭的环境，从而形成了独特 群体遗传特性。 (2)姬鼠属(Apodemus)系统进化中的比较基因组学研究 本文中我们利用比较基因组学的研究方法寻找Exon-Primer-Intron- Crossing(EPIC)座位，并在中国四川省姬鼠属3 个种18 个个体中进行检验。 其方法是：通过比较人和小家鼠基因组，选择其中的外显子高度保守的单 拷贝基因，然后在500-1500bp 长度内含子的两端利用外显子序列设计了引 物，再进行PCR 扩增和克隆分析。通过PCR 扩增，我们在102 对引物选 择了6 对引物在18 个姬鼠属个体中进行PCR 产物克隆和测序。通过和 Cyt-b 相比较，在6 个座位当中，有5 个座位构建的系统进化树和Cyt-b 构建的系统进化树的拓扑结构高度一致，其中4 个座位可以很好的区分地 理不同的种群。通过计算核酸多样性，6 个座位的得到的结果都很接近， 说明6 个座位的突变率没有太大的差别。由此可见，我们利用比较基因组学的方法寻找EPIC 座位用于系统发育和群体遗传学的研究是可行的，通 过利用模式物种的基因组信息来研究野生非模式物种的系统发育和群体 遗传学将会提供前所未有的数据量和分辨率。

川牛膝多糖的免疫活性及其水解活性片段分离研究

川牛膝多糖（CP）是从传统中药川牛膝（Cyathula officinalis Kuan）中提取的一种活性多糖，现代药理研究表明川牛膝多糖是川牛膝许多生物活性的物质基础。本实验室前期进行了川牛膝多糖的提取、分离、结构鉴定及其部分活性研究，发现川牛膝中多糖含量非常高，在对川牛膝多糖活性的初步研究中也证实了其具有免疫调节作用。我们为了进一步了解其免疫调节活性，并为构效关系的研究奠定基础，对其进行了如下研究： 1． 通过体外毒性检测、淋巴细胞增殖实验、NK细胞杀伤活性和腹腔巨噬细胞吞噬中性红活性测定，发现川牛膝多糖在10～300μg/mL浓度范围内，对细胞无毒性作用；能够促进LPS诱导的B淋巴细胞增殖(P<0.01)、增强NK细胞杀伤活性(P<0.05)和PMΦ吞噬中性红活性(P<0.01)，且随多糖浓度增高而增强；但其对ConA诱导的T淋巴细胞的增殖无促进作用(P>0.05)。 2． 通过正常小鼠体内淋巴细胞转化实验、迟发型变态反应分析、抗体生成细胞检测、碳粒廓清检测、腹腔巨噬细胞吞噬鸡红细胞活性和NK细胞活性测定，发现川牛膝多糖在适应性免疫方面能够促进SRBC免疫小鼠体内的抗体生成细胞的生成（P<0.01）和增强DNFB诱导的DTH（P<0.05），但对ConA诱导的脾淋巴细胞增殖无促进作用（P>0.05）；在固有免疫方面能够提高小鼠碳粒廓清速率（P<0.05），PMΦ吞噬 CRBC 活性（P<0.01）和NK细胞杀伤活性（P<0.05）。同时还发现其对由环磷酰胺(Cy)引起的白细胞数下降具有很好的抑制作用（P<0.01）。 3． 为了获得结构明确、均一的保留活性的川牛膝多糖片段，为其作用机制、构效关系研究提供关键研究材料，我们开展了“保留免疫活性的最小片段”的分离制备的初步研究。建立并优化了川牛膝多糖的酸水解条件，发现在6%的样品浓度，0.025mol/L的硫酸浓度，65℃的水解温度，水解时间为8min的条件下可以得到一系列连续的多糖片段；采用Bio-Gel P2 分子筛柱层析分离得到5个级分，通过体外淋巴细胞增殖实验、NK细胞活性测定、腹腔巨噬细胞吞噬中性红实验发现其中的一个片段仍保留较强的免疫活性，并测得其分子量约为2057Da，为保留免疫活性的最小片段的进一步分离奠定了基础。 Cyathula officinalis Kuan is a commonly-used Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) with a wide range of pharmacological activities. Modern pharmacological researches showed the polysaccharide extracted from it (CP) is an important component for many bioactivities of this TCM. In the previous studies, we found CP showed significant immuno-regulative activities. In order to evaluate this activity systematically and lay foundations for revealling its immuno-regulative machanisms and the Structure -Function relationship, we carried out the following research works: 1． The in vitro immunoactivities of CP were evaluated by using normal mice immunocytes with respects to cytotoxicity, lymphocytes proliferation, NK activity and the ability of peritoneal macrophage phagocytizing neutral red. The polysaccharide showed no cytotoxicity below the concentration of 300 μg/mL, and could promote B lymphocytes proliferation (P<0.01), enhance NK activity (P<0.05) and the ability of peritoneal macrophage phagocytizing neutral red (P<0.01) at the concentration of 10-300 μg/mL. The above effects were positively correlated with the concentration of the polysaccharides. But it could not promote T lymphocytes proliferation (P>0.05). 2． The in vivo immunoactivities of CP were observed on normal mice through the following indices: splenic lymphocyte transformation efficiency, delayed-type allergy, antibody-forming cells activity (AFC), rate of carbon clearance, rate of peritoneal macrophage phagocytizing chicken red blood cell (CRBC) and NK activity, and its influence on the decline of the mouse leucocyte count induced by Cy. The polysaccharide at medium-dose enhanced delayed-type allergy （P<0.05）and NK activity（P<0.05） and increased the rate of carbon clearance（P<0.05）, AFC activity（P<0.01） and the rate of peritoneal macrophage phagocytizing CRBC（P<0.01）. The polysaccharides also effectively resisted the decline of the mouse leucocyte count induced by Cy（P<0.01）. However, it couldn’t increase the splenic lymphocyte transformation efficiency（P>0.05）. 3． Attempting to isolate and prepare the minimal fragments retaining activity with identical structure for further studying on immuno-regulative mechanism and Structure-Function relationship, we carried out the study on hydrolysis of CP, isolation of hydrolysed fragments, and the activity evaluation of the isolated fragments. CP with concentration of 6% was hydrolysed at 65℃ for 8 min with sulfuric acid of 0.025 mol/L，then the hydrolysate was separated using Bio-Gel P2 chromatography, 5 portions of fragments were obtained. The immunoactivities of these fragments were evaluated by using normal mice immunocytes with respect to lymphocytes proliferation, NK activity and ability of peritoneal macrophage phagocytizing neutral red. One fragment with relative molecular mass of 2057Da was found retaining immunoactivity.

Biphasic regulation of H2O2 on angiogenesis implicated NADPH oxidase

ROS (reactive oxygen species) take an important signalling role in angiogenesis. Although there are several ways to produce ROS in cells, multicomponent non-phagocytic NADPH oxidase is an important source of ROS that contribute to angiogenesis. In the present work, we examined the effects of H2O2 on angiogenesis including proliferation and migration in HUVECs (human umbilical vein endothelial cells), new vessel formation in chicken embryo CAM (chorioallantoic membrane) and endothelial cell apoptosis, which is closely related to anti-angiogenesis. Our results showed that H2O2 dose-dependently increased the generation of O-2(-) (superoxide anion) in HUVECs, which was suppressed by DPI (diphenylene iodonium) and APO (apocynin), two inhibitors of NADPH oxidase. H2O2 at low concentrations (10 mu M) stimulated cell proliferation and migration, but at higher concentrations, inhibited both. Similarly, H2O2 at 4 nmol/cm(2) strongly induced new vessel formation in CAM, while it suppressed at high concentrations (higher than 4 nmol/cm(2)). Also, H2O2 (200 similar to 500 mu M) could stimulate apoptosis in HUVECs. All the effects of H2O2 on angiogenesis could be suppressed by NADPH oxidase inhibitors, which suggests that NADPH oxidase acts downstream of H2O2 to produce O-2(-) and then to regulate angiogenesis. In summary, our results suggest that H2O2 as well as O-2(-) mediated by NADPH oxidase have biphasic effects on angiogenesis in vitro and in vivo.

Integrated lectin affinity microfluidic chip for glycoform separation

Lectin affinity chromatography was miniaturized into a microfluidic format, which results in improvement of performance, as compared to the conventional method. A lectin affinity monolith column was prepared in the microchannel of a microfluidic chip. The porous monolith was fabricated by UV-initiated polymerization of ethylene dimethacrylate (EDMA) and glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) in the presence of porogeneities, followed by immobilization of pisum sativum agglutinin (PSA) on the monolith matrix. Using electroosmosis as the driven force, lectin affinity chromatographies of three kinds of glycoprotein, turkey ovalbumin (TO), chicken ovalbumin (CO), and ovomucoid (OM), were carried out on the microfluidic system. All the glycoproteins were successfully separated into several fractions with different affinities toward the immobilized PSA. The integrated system reduces the time required for the lectin affinity chromatography reaction to similar to3%, thus, the overall analysis time from 4 h to 400 s. Only 300 pg of glycoprotein is required for the whole separation process. Moreover, troublesome operations for lectin affinity chromatography are simplified.

鸡粪中活性有机酸的分离与鉴定

本文通过生物追踪实验法 ,研究了鸡粪中有机酸的生物活性成分 ,并从中筛选出了一种强活性物质 .通过红外光谱和质谱及生源关系初步确定其分子式为C36H56O18Na,名称为 3-O -D -葡萄糖 -6,1 -0 -葡萄糖酸 2 β ,2 ,2 0 -二羟基蛋甾酸钠

Preparation and mass spectrometric study of egg yolk antibody (IgY) against rabies virus

Rabies virus was used as the antigen to immunize laying chickens. Anti-rabies virus immunoglobulin Y(IgY) was isolated from yolks of the eggs laid by these chickens using a two-step salt precipitation and one-step gel filtration protocol. The purified IgY was reduced with dithiothreitol, and heavy chains (HC) and light chains (LC) were obtained. In addition, the purified IgY was digested with pepsin and the fragment with specific antigen binding properties (Fab) was produced. Using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOFMS), the average molecular weights of IgY, HC, LC, and Fab were determined as 167 250, 65 105, 18 660, and 45,359 Da, respectively. IgY has two structural differences compared with mammalian IgGs. First, the molecular weight of the heavy chain of IgY is larger than that of its mammalian counterpart, while the molecular weight of the light chain of IgY is smaller. Second, upon pepsin digestion, anti-rabies virus IgY is degraded into Feb, in contrast to mammalian IgG, which has been reported to be degraded into F(ab')(2) under the same conditions. Copyright (C) 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

A fibrinogen-related protein from bay scallop Argopecten irradians involved in innate immunity as pattern recognition receptor

The family of fibrinogen-related proteins (FREPs) is a group of proteins with fibrinogen-like domains. Many members of this family play important roles as pattern recognition receptors in innate immune responses. The cDNA of bay scallop Argopecten irradians FREP (designated as AiFREP) was cloned by rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE) method based on the expressed sequence tag (EST). The full-length cDNA of AiFREP was of 990 bp. The open reading frame encoded a polypeptide of 251 amino acids, including a signal sequence and a 213 amino acids fibrinogen-like domain. The fibrinogen-like domain of AiFREP was highly similar to those of mammalian ficolins and other FREPs. The temporal expression of AiFREP mRNA in hemolymph was examined by fluorescent quantitative real-time PCR. The mRNA level of scallops challenged by Listonella anguillarum was significantly up-regulated, peaked to 9.39-fold at 9 h after stimulation, then dropped back to 4.37-fold at 12 h, while there was no significant change in the Micrococcus luteus challenged group in all periods of treatment. The function of AiFREP was investigated by recombination and expression of the cDNA fragment encoding its mature peptide in Escherichia coli Rosetta gami (DE3). The recombinant AiFREP (rAiFREP) agglutinated chicken erythrocytes and human A, B, O-type erythrocytes. The agglutinating activities were calcium-dependent and could be inhibited by acetyl group-containing carbohydrates. rAiFREP also agglutinated Gram-negative bacteria E. coli JM109, L anguillarum and Gram-positive bacteria M. luteus in the presence of calcium ions. These results collectively suggested that AiFREP functions as a pattern recognition receptor in the immune response of bay scallop and contributed to nonself recognition in invertebrates, which would also provide clues for elucidating the evolution of the lectin pathway of the complement system. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

cDNA cloning and mRNA expression of the translationally controlled tumor protein (TCTP) gene from Japanese sea perch (Lateolabrax japonicus)

A homologue of the lower vertebrates translationally controlled tumor protein (TCTP) was cloned from the marine fish Japanese sea perch (Lateolabrax japonicus) by the technology of homology cloning. The full-length cDNA sequence of the sea perch TCTP gene contained a 5' untranslated region (UTR) of 47 bp, a 3' UTR of 433 bp, and a putative open reading frame (ORF) of 510 bp encoding a polypeptide of 170 amino acids. The deduced amino acid sequence of the sea perch TCTP gene showed a high similarity to that of zebrafish, rohu, rabbit, chicken and human. Sequence analysis revealed there were a signature sequence of TCTP family, an N-glycosylation site, and five Casein kinase phosphorylation sites in the sea perch TCTP. The temporal expression of TCTP genes in healthy and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) challenged fishes was measured by semi-quantitative reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR). The results indicated that LPS could up-regulate the expression of sea perch TCTP in the examined tissues, including head-kidney, spleen and liver.

Influence of albumen on aggregation and O-2 evolution of protoplasm from Bryopsis hypnoides Lamourou

The extruded protoplasm from the coenocytic green alga, Bryopsis hypnoides Lamouroux, was able to reform a cell wall and develop further into a mature alga in seawater. In this paper, the influence of albumen on the ability of aggregation and on the photosynthesis of protoplasm was examined. Results show that the protoplasm of B. hypnoides could aggregate in either albumen or chicken egg, which is similar to that in seawater. However unlike in seawater, the aggregation from B. hypnoides in albumen and chicken egg failed to develop into a mature individual. Interestingly, the protoplasm of B. hypnoides could maintain its photosynthetic O-2 evolution in albumen and chicken egg, while the time in chicken egg was longer than that in albumen.

Cloning and characterization of a novel C-type lectin from Zhikong scallop Chlamys farreri

C-type lectin is a family of Ca2+ dependent carbohydrate-recognition proteins which play crucial roles in the innate immunity of invertebrates by mediating the recognition of host cells to pathogens and clearing microinvaders as a pattern recognition protein (PRP). The cDNA of Zhikong scallop Chlamys farreri C-type lectin (designated CFLec-1) was cloned by expressed sequence tag (EST) and RACE techniques. The full-length cDNA of CFLec-1 was 1785 bp, consisting of a 5'-terminal untranslated region (UTR) of 66 bp and an unusually long 3' UTR of 1040 bp with seven polyadenylation signal sequences AATAAA and a poly(A) tail. The CFLec-1 cDNA encoded a polypeptide of 221 amino acids with a putative signal peptide of 15 amino acid residues and a mature protein of 206 amino acids. Analysis of the protein domain features indicated a typical long-form carbohydrate-recognition domain (CRD) of 130 residues in the CFLec-1 deduced amino acid sequence. The expression pattern of CFLec-1 transcripts in healthy and bacterial challenged scallops was studied by semi-quantitative RT-PCR. mRNA transcripts of CFLec-1 could be mainly detected in the tissues of haemocytes, gill, gonad and mantle of unchallenged scallops, whereas the expression of CFLec-1 transcripts was increased in all the tested tissues after heat-killed Vibrio anguillarum challenge. The temporal expression of CFLec-1 mRNA in haemolymph challenged by Micrococcus luteus and V anguillarum was both up-regulated and reached the maximum level at 8 and 16 It post stimulation, respectively, and then dropped back to the original level. In order to investigate its immune functions, CFLec- I was recombined and expressed in Escherichia coli BL21(DE3)-pLysS as a fusion protein with thioredoxin. The recombinant CFLec-1 agglutinated bacteria E. coli JM109 in vitro, and the agglutination was Ca2+ dependent which could be inhibited by EDTA. But it did not agglutinate M. luteus, Candida lipolytica and animal erythrocytes including rabbit, rat, mouse, chicken, human group A, human group B, human group O. Meanwhile, the recombinant CFLec-1 could inhibit the growth of both E. coli JM 109 and M. luteus, but no inhibition activity against V anguillarum. These result indicated that CFLec-1 was a constitutive and inducible PRP which was involved in the reorganization and clearance of invaders in scallop. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Molecular cloning and characterization of a putative lipopolysaccharide-induced TNF-alpha factor (LITAF) gene homologue from Zhikong scallop Chlamys farreri

LPS-induced TNF-alpha factor (LITAF) is a novel transcriptional factor that was first discovered in LPS-stimulated human macrophage cell line THP-1. LITAF can bind to TNF-a promoter to regulate its expression. The first scallop LITAF (named as CfLITAF) was cloned from Zhikong scallop Chlamys farreri by Expressed Sequence Tag (EST) and Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) techniques. The cDNA of CfLITAF was of 1240 bp and consisted of a 5' untranslated region (UTR) of 112 bp, a 3' UTR of 678 bp and an open reading frame (ORF) of 450 bp encoding a polypeptide of 149 amino acids with an estimated molecular mass of 16.08 kDa and theoretical isoelectric point of 6.77. A typical conserved LITAF-domain was identified in CfLITAF by SMART analysis. Homology analysis of the deduced amino acid sequence of CfLITAF with other known sequences by using the BLAST program revealed that CfLITAF was homologous to the LITAF from human and rat (Identity = 46%), cattle, horse, mouse and chicken (Identity = 48%), western clawed frog (Identity = 42%), and zebrafish (Identity = 50%). The mRNA expression of CfLITAF in different tissues including haemocytes, muscle, mantle, heart, gill and gonad, and the temporal expression in haemocytes challenged by LPS or peptidoglycan (PGN) were measured by Real-time RT-PCR. CfLITAF mRNA transcripts could be detected in all tissues examined and be up-regulated in haemocytes after LPS challenge. No significant changes were observed after PGN stimulation. All these data indicated the existence of LITAF in scallop and also provided clue on the presence of TNF-alpha-like molecules in invertebrates. (C) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.