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Identification of Protein Kinase R and Tissue Distribution in Channel Catfish
Author(s) -
Ball Jenna,
Vides Melissa,
Kobayashi Yass
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.30.1_supplement.925.3
Subject(s) - protein kinase r , catfish , biology , eif 2 kinase , messenger rna , protein kinase a , microbiology and biotechnology , kinase , gene , mitogen activated protein kinase kinase , biochemistry , cyclin dependent kinase 2 , fishery , fish <actinopterygii>
Protein kinase R (PKR) is one enzyme responsible for the cessation of translation during stress exposure in mammals by inactivating the eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2 through phosphorylation. PKR is also considered a viral sensor as activity of PKR increases in response to the presence of double‐stranded RNA within the cell during viral infection. Consequently, activation of PKR leads to the inhibition of cell proliferation and apoptosis, which prevents generation of new viral particles. Channel catfish have been considered an excellent model fish species in basic and comparative physiological studies. However, little is known about the immune response of channel catfish against viral infection, and the underlying mechanism(s) associated with improved disease response has not been well‐defined. Given that PKR is an integral component of mammalian innate immunity, this study with PKR in channel catfish may serve as a potential model to investigate human immune response to viral infections. The objective of this study was to identify PKR mRNA in channel catfish and to examine the tissue distribution. The gene encoding the PKR was identified by comparing channel catfish EST database with zebra fish PKR mRNA. Expression of PKR mRNA was examined in the cDNA of brain, liver, muscle, spleen, trunk kidney, and heart using RT‐PCR. The PKR mRNA was detectable in all tissues examined at varying degrees. Nucleotide sequence of the amplicon (399 bp) was identical to the corresponding channel catfish EST (100%), but not with any other PKR mRNA. Currently, this study is investigating expression of PKR mRNA in relation to long‐term stress associated with food deprivation. Support or Funding Information This study is supported by the Kansas IDeA Network of Biomedical Research Excellence (Grant number 20GM103418).