cDNA for an immune response gene encoding low molecular weight polypeptidefrom flounder, Paralichthys olivaceus

The cDNA for an immune response gene encoding the low molecular weight poly peptide (LMP7) was cloned and sequenced from a flounder (Paralichthys oliva ceus) leukocyte cDNA library. The cDNA clone was 1,160 bp, and composed of an open reading frame of 822 bp that corresponded to a protein of 273 amino acid residues with a calculated mass of 30.5 kDa, The ScanProsite search i ndicated that the deduced amino acid sequence from the flounder LMP7 contai ns a proteasome beta -type subunit signature, which is well conserved durin g evolution, The sequence shares a high degree of identity with other LMP7 sequences varying from a 66% identity with zebra fish (Danio renio) to a 57 % identity with the African clawed frog (Xenopus laevis), which was confirm ed from a phylogenetic tree, A reverse transcription-polymerase chain react ion (RT-PCR) was used to determine tissue specificity, and the expression o f LMP7 was detected fi om the liver, kidney, leukocyte, and spleen of the f lounder.