| Year |
2009 |
| Abstract |
Interferon gamma (IFN-γ) has important roles in both innate and adaptive immune responses. In this study, the cDNA and genomic sequences of Atlantic cod IFN-γ were cloned and found to encode a putative protein containing 194 amino acids with a 24 amino acid signal peptide sequence. The gene is composed of four exons and three introns similar to IFN-γ genes of other vertebrates. The cod IFN-γ showed only 14 to 29 % amino acid identity with other fish IFN-γ and 9 to 17% identity with IFN-γ from higher vertebrates. However, cod IFN-γ possesses the typical IFN-γ motifs in the C-terminal end of the protein and displays an alpha-helix structure similar to mammalian IFN-γ. The promoter region contains a putative ISRE-element indicating up-regulation by type I IFNs and dsRNA. Real-time RT-PCR analysis confirmed that IFN-γ gene expression was up-regulated in organs of cod injected with the dsRNA polyinosinic:polycytidylic acid (poly I:C), which is a strong inducer of type I IFNs. Injection of cod with formalin-killed Vibrio anguillarum also increased IFN-γ expression in head kidney, but to a much lesser extent than poly I:C. The gene expression results thus indicate a role for IFN-γ in innate immune response against both virus and bacteria in Atlantic cod. |
| Reference |
Furnes, C., Seppola, M., Robertsen, B. (2009) Identification and expression analysis of interferon gamma gene in Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua L.). Fish and Shellfish immunology, 26(2): 285-292. |
| Publisher |
Fish and Shellfish immunology, |
Marit Seppola
