Molecular Identification, Tissue Distribution, and Effects of Fasting and Refeeding on the Transcription of Uncoupling Protein 2 in Yellow Catfish, Pelteobagrus vachelli
Molecular Identification, Tissue Distribution, and Effects of Fasting and Refeeding on the Transcription of Uncoupling Protein 2 in Yellow Catfish, Pelteobagrus vachelli
Fan Da1,3, Zheng-Yong Wen1,2*, Xiao-Dong Wang4 and Yu Luo5
ABSTRACT
Uncoupling protein-2 (UCP2), an important member of the inner mitochondrial membrane protein families, plays pivotal roles in energy expenditure, fatty acid metabolism and ROS emission in mammals. In contrast to mammals, the roles of this protein are still rarely known in fish. Here, we first identified the ucp2 gene in yellow catfish (Pelteobagrus vachelli) and investigated its transcriptional changes in response to fasting and refeeding. The cDNA of pvucp2 was 1,193 bp long and possessed a 939 bp open reading frame (ORF) encoding 312 amino acids. Multiple protein sequences alignment revealed that UCP2 protein sequences were highly conserved among vertebrates. Phylogenetic analysis suggested the evolutionary process of fish ucp2 was consistent with species evolution, and the pvucp2 shared a close relationship with electric eel ucp2. Quantitative PCRs showed that pvucp2 was extensively expressed in all detected tissues, with the highest expression in liver. Two-week fasting significantly decreased while refeeding dramatically increased the hepatic pvucp2 transcriptions. These findings suggested that fish UCP2 proteins are highly conserved and they might play important roles in maintaining energy homeostasis and reducing reactive oxygen species.
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