Potchanapond Graidist, Theerawut Phusantisampan, Sunee Wanlem, and Warapond Wanna

pp. 571 - 579

Abstract

Two genes, PinX1 and 14-3-3, have been isolated and investigated for their expression in shrimp, Litopenaeus
vannamei when infected with white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) and subjected to environmental stresses. A putative PinX1
protein of 180 amino acids showed a 65% similarity to the zebra fish PinX1 protein (Danio rerio) and had a G-patch domain
similar to human PinX1. The sequence of a full length cDNA of 14-3-3 has a very high similarity (96%) to other shrimp 14-3-3-
like protein (Feneropenaeus merguiensis and Penaeus monodon). Transcripts of PinX1 and 14-3-3 were up regulated in the
hemolymph of viral infected shrimp with the highest expression level at 24 hrs p.i. Shrimp showing mortality characteristics
had very low expression of these two genes. In animals subjected to a combined low temperature (19-20°C) and low oxygen
(DO 1-1.5 mg/L) for 24 hrs, an interesting result was that the transcript of PinX1 was drastically increased. In contrast, 14-3-3
did not show any significant differences between the six treatments. The results of this work indicated that the PinX1 protein
might play an important role in the shrimp response to viral infection and repose to certain stresses. In contrast the 14-3-3
protein might play a particularly important role in the immune defended mechanisms of viral infections of shrimps.