Molecular characterization and leukocyte distribution of a teleost beta 1 integrin molecule

The beta 1 integrin, in combination with the alpha subunit, is responsible for migration of leukocytes into areas of inflammation. Although identified in mammalian species; the beta 1 or CD29 molecule has yet to be identified in fish. The present investigation has identified a full-length channel ca tfish, Ictalurus punctatus, cDNA beta 1 molecule composed of 2786 bases and a deduced amino acid sequence of 797 amino acids. The catfish molecule has an amino acid identity ranging from 71.87 to 74.12% with bovine, feline, h uman, and Xenopus, The channel catfish molecule retains several characteris tics of mammalian beta 1 molecules, such as four cysteine-rich repeat regio ns, and eight potential N-linked glycosylation sites. Based on Western blot ting the channel catfish beta 1 molecule has a molecular mass of approximat ely 130 kDa, essentially the same as that for mammalian species, These resu lts confirm the existence and expression of a beta 1 gene in channel catfis h, a species phylogenetically distant from mammals. (C) 2000 Elsevier Scien ce B.V. All rights reserved.