Molecular cloning, expression and evolution of the Japanese flounder goose-type lysozyme gene, and the lytic activity of its recombinant protein

In this study, we cloned the goose-type (g-type) lysozyme gene from the Jap anese flounder genomic DNA library, the first such data in fish and only th e second after the chicken g-type lysozyme gene. The Japanese flounder g-ty pe lysozyme gene was 1252 bp in length from the transcription site to the p olyadenylation site, coded for 758 bp of mRNA and 195 deduced amino acids, which contain five exons and four introns. A phylogenetic analysis based on amino acid sequences showed that the flounder gene was closer to g-type ly sozyme, followed by phage-type lysozyme and then chicken-type (c-type) lyso zyme. Although exon I of the flounder gene differs from exons I and 2 of th e chicken g-type lysozyme gene, three catalytic residues, as well as their neighboring amino acids were conserved between the Japanese flounder and th e four avian g-type lysozymes. In a Southern blot analysis using the genomi c DNA of homo-cloned Japanese flounder, the flounder g-type lysozyme gene s howed a simple pattern, suggesting that it is encoded by a single copy gene . A Northern blot analysis showed that this gene was expressed in all tissu es of Japanese flounder that we examined in this study and showed major dif ferences from those expressed tissues of the chicken g-type gene. Japanese flounder g-type lysozyme mRNA levels in the intestine, heart and whole bloo d increased after injecting the fish with Edwardsiella tarda. Recombinant f lounder g-type lysozyme, which has an optimal pH and temperature of pH 6.0 and 25 degreesC, possessed lytic activity against Micrococcus lysodeikticus and several fish pathogenic bacteria. This is the first report of a g-type lysozyme gene other than for reported avian species. (C) 2001 Elsevier Sci ence B.V. All rights reserved.