Characterization of the antifreeze peptide system of the Antarctic eel pout, Pachycara brachycephalum

"Pachycara brachycephalum (suborder Zoarcoidei) produces essentially one antifreeze peptide (AFP) that is maintained at high serum levels. The AFP gene family of the species was characterized to elucidate the basis of its particularly homogeneous AFP complement, as compared with other zoarcoids. Six AFP genes were isolated from a genomic DNA library. Four of the genes are similar in sequence to other zoarcoid AFP genes, encode proteins similar to the predominant AFP (AB1) and are termed ""classical"" genes. The fifth AFP gene contains a 648-bp insertion with the 3$\sp\prime$ exon (as compared with the ""classical"" gene motif) and is termed ""AFP-like."" The sixth AFP gene sequence lacks the ""classical"" 5$\sp\prime$ exon and nearly identical to a 3$\sp\prime$ region of a partial gene sequence of the antarctic zoarcoid Lycodichthys dearborni that is suspected to encode a multi-domain AFP similar to one of its major AFPs, RD3. This sequence in P. brachycephalum is termed ""RD3-like."" The AFP gene family of P. brachycephalum contains $\sim$83 genes, of which about 46 are ""classical,"" 24 are ""AFP-like"" and eight are ""RD3-like."" While no protein products are known for ""AFP-like"" and ""RD3-like"" genes, a cDNA transcript from each was obtained, indicating that each is expressed. Messages for AB1 comprise the majority of the ""classical"" gene transcripts. Messages for the known minor AFP variant (AB2) and for seven other variants were also identified. The species' essentially monotypic circulating AFP complement is thus encoded by a large gene family, as in other zoarcoids."

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph.D.

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Molecular and Integrative Physiology

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2011

Author dc:creator

• Osadjan, Mark D.

Contributors dc:contributor

• DeVries, Arthur L.

• Biology, Molecular
• Biology, Animal Physiology
• Biology, Zoology

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright 1996 Osadjan, Mark D.

Language dc:language

eng

Identifier

9780591198478
AAI9712390
(UMI)AAI9712390

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/23493