Manasave Dechklar. Molecular cloning and characterization of a cDNA encoding argonaute protein from Penaeus monodon. Master's Degree(Molecular Genetics and Genetic Engineering). Mahidol University. : Mahidol University, 2006.
Molecular cloning and characterization of a cDNA encoding argonaute protein from Penaeus monodon
Abstract:
Argonaute proteins are present in diverse organisms ranging from yeast to
humans. In addition to their role in developmental control, some Argonautes have
been shown to play essential roles in a variety of post-transcriptional RNA-mediated
gene silencing pathways, including RNA interference or RNAi mediated by sequencespecific
double-stranded RNA. This work is aimed at the characterization of an
Argonaute that associates with RNAi in the shrimp Penaeus monodon in order to
provide an in-depth understanding of the RNA-mediated gene silencing mechanism in
the shrimp. A total of 2,829 bp of the cDNA encoding Argonaute of P. monodon
(Pem-AGO) was obtained from RT-PCR and RACE methods, using mRNA from the
lymphoid (Oka) organ as a template. The deduced amino acid sequence of Pem-AGO
contained the two conserved domains, PAZ and PIWI, which are the signature of the
Argonaute family. The requirement for Pem-AGO in RNAi was explored in the
primary Oka cell culture of P. monodon. Transfection with three dsRNAs
corresponding to different regions in the Pem-AGO sequence resulted in
approximately 30% reduction of Pem-AGO expression in the Oka cells. The
subsequent effect of the depletion in Pem-AGO mRNA level on the efficacy of RNAi
was determined by the amount of silencing in the endogenous 5-HT receptor gene by
its specific dsRNA. Pem-AGO depletion led to impaired RNAi as demonstrated by
partial restoration of 5-HT receptor gene expression in the cells that acquired dsRNAs,
which target both the Pem-AGO and 5-HT receptor genes. By contrast, only slight or
no impairment of RNAi was seen when the exogenous gene, the protease gene of
yellow head virus, was targeted for silencing in Pem-AGO depleted cells. In summary,
the results from this study suggest the involvement of Pem-AGO in RNA-mediated
gene silencing by RNAi mechanism in P. monodon