cDNA Cloning and Expression of Translationally Controlled Tumour Protein (TCTP) Isolated from Mud Crab Scylla paramamosain in Escherichia coli

Translationally controlled tumour proteins (TCTP) cDNA were cloned from the haemolymph of Scylla paramamosain by reverse transcription PCR using primers derived from Penaeus monodon. Nucleotide sequence analysis revealed 507 bp open reading frame (ORF) encoding 168 amino acid residues with a predicted molecular mass and pI of approximately 19.2 kDa and 4.5, respectively. Interestingly, mud crab-TCTP shows 99 % homology with Penaeus monodon translationally controlled tumour proteins (Pm-TCTP) and Fenneropenaeus merguiensis TCTP. This gene was also expressed in pQE40 vector as histidine tagged fusion proteins. The recombinant protein has a molecular mass of approximately 25 kDa. From the biological function study of Pm-TCTP, It is proposed that mud crab-TCTP might function as anti-apoptosis like Pm-TCTP does.