Molecular characterization and functional analysis of a peroxiredoxin 1 cDNA from golden pompano (Trachinotus ovatus)

• A peroxiredoxin1 cDNA was cloned and characterized from golden pompano Trachinotus ovatus.
• The expressions of ToPrx 1 mRNA were significantly up-regulated in liver, spleen, kidney and intestine of golden pompano injected with Photobacterium damselae.
• The recombinant protein of ToPrx 1 was expressed and purified in vitro.
• The recombinant protein of ToPrx 1 had the antioxidant activity.

Peroxiredoxin 1 (Prx 1) is an important antioxidant protein that can protect organisms against the toxicity of reactive oxygen species. In this study, a full-length Prx 1 cDNA sequence (ToPrx 1) was identified from golden pompano (Trachinotus ovatus). The ToPrx 1 cDNA was 1049 base pairs (bp) long and contained a 5′-untranslated region (UTR) of 127 nucleotides, a 3′-UTR of 328 nucleotides, and a 594 bp open reading frame (ORF) encoding a 197 amino acid polypeptide. The ToPrx 1 protein showed strong homology (79–91%) with Prx 1 proteins from other species and contained the conserved Prx domain and the signature of the peroxidase catalytic center. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that ToPrx 1 was in the fish Prx 1 subgroup, which suggests that ToPrx 1 could belong to the 2-Cys Prx subgroup. ToPrx 1 mRNA was ubiquitously detected in all tested tissues, and its expression was comparatively high in the fin, spleen, kidney, intestine, eye, gill, and blood. The expression levels of ToPrx 1 mRNA were significantly up-regulated in liver, spleen, kidney, and intestine of golden pompano injected with Photobacterium damselae. The recombinant ToPrx 1 protein (rToPrx 1) was expressed and purified through affinity chromatography and refolded successfully using ion-exchange chromatography. The antioxidant activity assay of rToPrx 1 showed that it could reduce insulin in the presence of dithiothreitol, which suggests that the antioxidant function of rToPrx 1 is thiol dependent. This study provides useful information to help further understand the functional mechanism of Prx 1 in marine fish immunity.