Identification, mRNA expression and characterization of a novel ANK-like gene from Chinese mitten crab Eriocheir japonica sinensis

Ankyrins are a family of adapter molecules mediating linkages between integral membrane and cytoskeletal proteins. Ankyrin repeat is one of the most frequently observed amino acid motifs in protein databases. A novel ANK-like gene of Chinese mitten crab Eriocheir japonica sinensis (denoted as EjsANK) was identified and cloned by expressed sequence tag and rapid amplification of cDNA end approaches. The full-length cDNA of EjsANK is 4375 bp and contains an open reading frame of 1095 bp which encodes a 364 amino acids polypeptide (40.23 kD) bearing seven ankyrin repeats. EjsANK cDNA has a 3073 bp uniquely long 3′ untranslated region with three K-box elements, one GY-like box domain and one Brd-like box domain. Sequence alignment and three-dimensional structural analyses revealed that EjsANK should be a novel cytosolic member of the ankyrin family. Fluorescent real-time quantitative RT-PCR approach was performed to examine the expression profiles of EjsANK mRNA by testing its relative level in three types of tissues at three different developmental stages, respectively. We found that the relative level of EjsANK mRNA expression was significantly higher in the abdomen at the first crab stage. Functional bioinformatics prediction analyses indicated that EjsANK has an analogical effect like IκB which is a key component of IκB/NF-κB complex in mammalian cells playing very important roles in the development process. Results suggest that EjsANK gene is involved in the early developmental regulation of Chinese mitten crab, especially brachyurization regulation.