Korean Journal of Ichthyology (한국어류학회지)

The Ichthyological Society of Korea (한국어류학회)
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Molecular Characterization of Metallothionein Gene of the Korean Bitterling Acheilognathus signifer (Cyprinidae)

묵납자루 (Acheilognathus signifer; Cyprinidae) metallothionein 유전자의 클로닝 및 특징 분석

  • Lee, Sang-Yoon (Department of Marine Bio-Materials & Aquaculture, Pukyong National University) ;
  • Bang, In-Chul (Department of Marine Biotechnology, Soonchunhyang University) ;
  • Nam, Yoon-Kwon (Department of Marine Bio-Materials & Aquaculture, Pukyong National University)
  • 이상윤 (부경대학교 해양바이오신소재학과) ;
  • 방인철 (순천향대학교 해양생명공학과) ;
  • 남윤권 (부경대학교 해양바이오신소재학과)
  • Received : 2011.02.07
  • Accepted : 2011.03.18
  • Published : 2011.03.31
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Abstract

Genetic determinant for metallothionein (MT), a cysteine-rich protein playing essential roles in metal detoxification and homeostasis, was characterized in the Korean bitterling (Acheilognathus signifer, Cyprinidae), an endemic fish species. The full-length A. signifer MT (AsMT) cDNA (551 bp) is composed of a single open-reading frame (ORF) to encode a polypeptide of 60 amino acids containing 20 cysteine residues whose positions are conserved in most cypriniform MTs. At the genomic level, the AsMT (2,593 bp spanning the 5'-flanking region to the 3'-untranslated region) represented a conserved tripartite (three exons interrupted by two introns) structure with AT-rich introns. The upstream regulatory region (-1,914 bp from the ATG initiation codon) of AsMT displayed various sites and motifs for transcription factors involved in the metal-mediated regulation and stress/immune responses. The AsMT transcript was ubiquitously detected in various organs with variable expression levels, where the ovary and intestine showed the highest expression, while the heart and skeletal muscle represented the lowest level. During an exposure to copper (immersion in $0.5\;{\mu}M$ Cu for 48 h), the levels of AsMT transcripts were significantly elevated in the liver (more than 3.5-fold), moderately in the gill, kidney, and spleen (ranging from 1.5- to 2.5-fold), and barely in the brain and intestine. Results of this study could form a useful basis to explore the metal-related stress physiology of this endangered fish species.

한반도 고유종인 묵납자루(Acheilognathus signifer)로부터 metallothionein(MT) 유전자를 분리하고 그 유전자 구조와 발현 특징을 분석하였다. 묵납자루 MT cDNA는 20개의 시스테인(cysteines)을 포함한 60개의 아미노산을 암호화하고 있었고, 이들 시스테인 잔기들의 위치는 잉어목 어류에서 잘 보전되어 있었다. 묵납자루 MT 유전자는 3개의 exon과 2개의 intron으로 구성되어 있었으며 intron영역은 A/T조성 빈도가 높았다. 생물정보 분석법을 통해 묵납자루 MT 유전자의 프로모터 영역은 중금속 조절 빛 스트레스/면역관련 조절에 관련한 다양한 전사 조절인자들의 부착 위치들이 보유하고 있는 것으로 예측되었다. Real-time RT-PCR 분석법을 이용한 묵납자루 MT mRNA의 조직 별 발현 수준을 조사한 결과, 난소와 장 조직에서의 발현 수준이 가장 높았으며 성장과 근욕 조직에서의 발현 수준이 가장 낮은 것으로 확인되었다. 구리를 이용한 중금속 노출 실험(구리 농도 $0.5\;{\mu}M$을 이용, 48 시간 동안 침지 처리)을 통하여 간 조직에서 MT mRNA 발현이 가장 많이 유도되었고(3.5배 이상), 비장, 신장 및 아가미에서도 유의적인 발현양의 증가(1.5~2.5배)가 관찰되었다. 그러나 뇌 및 장 조직에서는 MT 발현양의 변화가 없었다. 본 연구 결과는 향후 멸종위기 고유종인 묵납자루의 중금속 관련 스트레스 연구에 유용한 기초 자료를 제공할 수 있으리라 기대된다.

Keywords

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