Cloning and stage-specific expression of CK-M1 gene during metamorphosis of Japanese flounder, Paralichthys olivaeeus

• Published in: Chinese journal of oceanology and limnology Vol. 28; no. 3; pp. 558 - 564
• Main Author: 陈妍婕 张全启 齐洁 王志刚 王旭波 孙业盈 钟其旺 李朔 李春梅
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 2010
• Subjects: 代表性差异分析; 基因表达; 对称变形; 幼虫变态; 氨基酸序列; 阶段特异性
• ISSN: 0254-4059; 1993-5005

The symmetrical body of flatfish larvae changes dramatically into an asymmetrical form after metamorphosis. The molecular mechanisms responsible for this change are poorly understood. As an initial step to clarify these mechanisms, we used representational difference analysis of cDNA for the identification of genes active during metamorphosis in the Japanese flounder, Paralichthys olicaceus. One of the up-regulated genes was identified as creatine kinase muscle type 1 （CK-M1）. Sequence analysis of CK-M1 revealed that it spanned 1 708 bp and encoded a protein of 382 amino acids. The overall amino acid sequence of the CK-M1 was highly conserved with those of other organisms. CK-M1 was expressed in adult fish tissues, including skeletal muscle, intestine and gill. Whole mount in-situ hybridization showed that the enhanced expression of CK-M1 expanded from the head to the whole body of larvae as metamorphosis progressed. Quantitative analysis revealed stage-specific high expression of CK-M1 during metamorphosis. The expression level of CK-M 1 increased initially and peaked at metamorphosis, decreased afterward, and finally returned to the pre-metamorphosis level. This stage-specific expression pattern suggested strongly that CK-M 1 was related to metamorphosis in the Japanese flounder. Its specific role in metamorphosis requires further study.