A novel caspase-6 from sea cucumber Holothuria leucospilota: Molecular characterization, expression analysis and apoptosis detection

作者：Yan, Aifen; Ren, Chunhua; Chen, Ting; Huo, Da; Jiang, Xiao; Sun, Hongyan; Hu, Chaoqun^*

来源：Fish & Shellfish Immunology, 2018, 80: 232-240.

DOI：10.1016/j.fsi.2018.06.006

• Caspase-6
• Holothuria leucospilota
• Apoptosis
• Innate immunity
• p53 signal pathway

In this study, a novel caspase-6 named HLcaspase-6 was identified from sea cucumber Holothuria leucospilota. The full-length cDNA of HLcaspase-6 is 2195 bp in size, containing a 126 bp 5'-untranslated region (UTR), a 1043 bp 3'-UTR and a 1026 bp open reading frame (ORF) encoding a protein of 341 amino acids with a deduced molecular weight of 38.57 kDa. HLcaspase-6 contains the common signatures of the caspase family, including the conserved pentapeptide motif QACRG, as well as the P20 and P10 domains. In addition, HLcaspase-6 contains a short pro-domain. HLcaspase-6 mRNA is ubiquitously expressed in all tissues examined, with the highest transcript level in the intestine, followed by coelomocytes. In in vitro experiments, the expression of HLcaspase-6 mRNA in coelomocytes was significantly up-regulated by lipopolysaccharides (LPS) or polyriboinosinic-polyribocytidylic acid [poly (I:C)] challenge, suggesting that HLcaspase-6 might play important roles in the innate immune defense of sea cucumber against bacterial and viral infections. Moreover, we further confirmed that overexpression of HLcaspase-6 could induce apoptosis and activate the p53 signal pathway.

• 出版日期2018-9
• 单位中国科学院; 华南农业大学; 佛山科学技术学院