Molecular characterization of the giant freshwater prawn (Macrobrachium rosenbergii) beta-actin gene promoter

Introduction

Giant freshwater prawn is the biggest freshwater prawn in the world. The males can grow up to 320 mm in body length and weigh over 200 g (Ling, 1969). It has a wide distribution throughout the world and is particularly favored for farming in the tropical and subtropical developing countries in Asia, such as China, India and Thailand. Owing to its fast growth rate and higher profit realization per unit area, it has now become the most widely aquacultured freshwater prawn species and contributed 51.7% to the total global production of freshwater prawns (Banu & Christianus, 2016; New, 2005; New & Nair, 2012). However, the outbreak of diseases is a major limitation facing the aquaculture industry, and several diseases such as white spot disease and white tail disease have been reported to cause mass mortality for giant freshwater prawn farming worldwide (Bonami & Widada, 2011; Saurabh & Sahoo, 2008).

Transgenic technology has been considered as a powerful and effective way to improve economic traits of aquaculture species (Bennett & Jennings, 2013; Rasmussen & Morrissey, 2007; Sin, 1997), through which pathogen-resistant strains of prawn could be generated to reduce or even avoid the disease-related economic losses. So far, successful gene transfer in freshwater prawn and several marine shrimp species have been reported (Arenal et al., 2000; Liu et al., 2001; Preston et al., 2000). However, most of the researches used expression vectors based on heterologous promoters such as the CMV (cytomegalovirus) and SV40 (simian vacuolating virus 40) promoter, the hobo transposable element (HFL1) and the carp beta-actin gene promoter. Studies about fish transgenesis have shown that promoters of fish origin were more efficient in driving expression of the target genes than those with mammalian or viral origins (Alam et al., 1996; Hanley et al., 1998). Moreover, negative concerns about the use of viral promoters to express transgenes have led to the generation of “all-fish” transgene constructs (Rasmussen & Morrissey, 2007). In accordance with the “all-fish” concept, promoters originated from prawn species have strong potential for use in prawn transgenesis and gene function studies.

Beta-actin is a housekeeping gene with ubiquitous expression. The promoter of beta-actin gene has been isolated from and characterized in a wide variety of species such as human (Gunning et al., 1987), chicken (Kosuga et al., 2000), amphioxus (Feng et al., 2014), teleosts (Barman et al., 2015; Hwang et al., 2003; Kong et al., 2014; Liu et al., 1991; Noh et al., 2003) and shrimps (Shi et al., 2015; Shi et al., 2016). Because the beta-actin gene promoter confers a high level of constitutive transcriptional expression, it is widely used for transgenesis in both plants and animals (Cho et al., 2011; Hong et al., 2016; Kosuga et al., 2000). Although the cDNA of the beta-actin gene has been cloned from giant freshwater prawn (Zhu et al., 2005), its promoter remains to be characterized. Here, we report the isolation and characterization of the giant freshwater prawn beta-actin (Mractb1) gene promoter (Mbap). Our results provide insights into the regulation mechanisms of the Mractb1 gene and indicate the potential usage of Mbap in gene function and transgenesis studies for giant freshwater prawn and closely related species.

Materials and Methods

Results

Cloning of the 5′ flanking sequence for the Mractb1 gene

To clone the 5′ flanking sequence for the Mractb1 gene, a 1,293 bp genome sequence was firstly amplified using the primers Mractb1-F/ Mractb1-R designed according to the reported cDNA sequence (Zhu et al., 2005). Three rounds of genome walking experiments were subsequently performed to clone the upstream sequence of the Mractb1 gene. As shown in (Fig. 1), the length of the DNA fragments obtained by the three genome walking experiments were 2,094, 531 and 713 bp, respectively. Furthermore, PCR using the forward primer Mractb1-F and the reverse primer Exon3-R (matches to the 3′ cDNA end) generated a 1,593 bp sequence. Assembling of these fragments resulted in a 4,306-bp long contig, which contains both the 5′ flanking and full sequence for the Mractb1 gene. The obtained upstream sequence counted from the first nucleotide of the initiation codon is 2,620 bp in length, which has been submitted to the GenBank database under the accession number KY038927.

Identification of two transcripts for the Mractb1 gene

Before characterizing the promoter of the Mractb1 gene, 5′-RACE was performed to identify the transcriptional start site (TSS). A clear DNA band in the range of 100 to 250 bp was obtained (Fig. 2). The DNA fragments were purified and cloned into the pMD18-T vector. Subsequent DNA sequencing revealed two 5′ cDNA end sequences for the Mractb1 gene. One is 106 bp (10 clones sequenced) and the other is 145 bp (6 clones sequenced) in length (Fig. 2). Further analysis revealed that the Mractb1 gene possesses 2 transcript variants (designated Mractb1_tv1 and Mractb1_tv2, respectively), which only differ in the 5′ UTR (untranslated region sequence) (Fig. 3A). PCR using different forward primers (Exon1-F and Exon1′-F) and the same reverse primer (Exon3-R) amplified the full-length sequence for the 2 transcripts (Figs. 3A, 3B), which are 1,186 and 1,225 bp in length, respectively. Since the transcripts contain different exon 1 (Fig. 3A), we speculate that they are driven by alternative promoters (promoter-1 and promoter-2).

Expression of the Mractb1 transcripts in different sexes and tissues

To shed light on the activities of the promoters in different sexes and tissues, the expression levels of the two transcript variants were measured by qPCR assays. As shown in Fig. 4, the Mractb1 gene demonstrate quite different expression levels among tissues and between sexes. The highest overall expression level of the Mractb1 gene was found in the gonad and gill, followed by the intestine, muscle and liver. Sexual dimorphism could be found for the expression level of the Mractb1 gene in all the tissues (Fig. 4). The expression levels of both Mractb1_tv1 and Mractb1_tv2 in the female gonad (ovary) and gill is significantly higher than those in the corresponding male tissues, while muscle and intestine of the males demonstrated higher expression than those of the females (Fig. 4). A difference between the expression of the two transcripts in the same tissue was identified in the male gill and the female gonad and muscle. Mractb1_tv2 showed a higher expression in the male gill, but a lower expression in the female muscle and gonad when compared to Mractb1_tv1 (Fig. 4). These findings indicate that expression of the Mractb1 gene is regulated by tissue and sex specific factors.

Molecular dissection of the Mractb1 gene promoter

Three CpG islands were predicted in the 5′ flanking sequence of the Mractb1 gene. These CpG islands are located at −1,762 to −1,569 (i1, 194 bp), −1,437 to −1,320 (i2, 118 bp) and −747 to −542 (i3, 206 bp), respectively (Fig. 5A). The 2,620 bp flanking sequence was divided into 7 segments (from Mba7 to Mba1) according to the locations of the CpG islands and the TSSs (Fig. 5A). Transcriptional activities of the upstream fragments were investigated by dual luciferase assays. When characterized separately, Mba7, Mba6, Mba3 and Mba1 demonstrated no or minimal transcriptional activity, while high promoter activity was detected for Mba5, Mba4 and Mba2, each of them contains a predicted CpG island (Fig. 5B), suggesting importance of the CpG islands in transcription. Based on structure of the Mractb1 transcripts and transcriptional activities of the upstream fragments, we concluded that the two alternative promoters are in Mba54 (promoter-1) and Mba21 (promoter-2), respectively. Activity of the two promoters and regulations by their corresponding upstream regions were further characterized. For promoter-1, combination of Mba5 and Mba4 only slightly increased the promoter activity, Mba6 displayed no effect on Mba54, while fusing Mba7 to Mba654 significantly enhanced the promoter activity (Fig. 5C). As for promoter-2, significant synergistic effect was found between Mba2 and Mba1; however, Mba3 demonstrated negative effect on the activity of Mba21 (Fig. 5D). Serial deletion experiments indicated that Mba654321 had the highest transcriptional activity, followed by Mba7654321 and Mba54321, while Mba4321, Mba321 and Mba21 only displayed basal promoter activity (Fig. 5E). Furthermore, interaction between the two alternative promoters was observed. Mba54 (promoter-1) and Mba21 (promoter-2) demonstrated significant synergistic effects when combined (Mba5421). Both Mba3 and Mba6 can enhance activity of Mba5421 and the interaction between Mba3 and Mba6 is necessary for the full activity of the Mractb1 gene promoter (Fig. 5F). Taken together, the upstream fragments demonstrate different effects under different circumstances. For example, Mba7 enhances activity of the promoter-1 but inhibits activity of the whole promoter (Figs. 5C, 5E). On the contrary, Mba3 inhibits activity of the promoter-2 but is indispensable for the full activity of the whole promoter (Figs. 5D, 5F). These findings suggest complex interactions among genetic elements in regulating expression of the Mractb1 gene.

Genetic elements in the Mractb1 gene promoter

As shown in (Figs. 5A 5B), the CpG islands in the promoter of the Mractb1 gene are intimately associated with the promoter activity. It is interesting that despite no TSS was identified in the first CpG island (i1, Mba5), it still directs high level of transcription (Fig. 5B). Further investigation indicated that this region contains a CCAAT box, a CArG box and a GC box (Fig. 6). Both CCAAT box and CArG box were reported to be important for the constitutive expression of carp and human beta-actin gene (Liu et al., 1990; Quitschke et al., 1989). The second CpG island (i2) encompasses the first TSS and an initiator element (InR) (Fig. 6). The third CpG island (i3) contains the second TSS, a GC box and an InR (Fig. 6). Since no TATA box was identified in the core promoters for the Mractb1 gene, the InRs may play important roles in transcription initiation.

Mractb1 promoter demonstrates comparative activity with the carp actb1 promoter

To justify whether the Mractb1 promoter cloned in this study has the potential to be used as a genetic tool in gene function and transgenesis studies, the activity of which was compared with that of carp beta-actin (actb1) gene promoter, a promoter which is commonly used in transgenic fish. The fragment with the highest promoter activity (Mba654321) was designated as Mbap. The promoter of the carp actb1 gene (designated as Cbap) was cloned into the pGL3-basic vector as well. Dual luciferase assays in EPC cells indicated that the Mbap demonstrated comparative activity with the Cbap (Fig. 7A). Western blot using antibody against the firefly luciferase detected similar expression level of firefly luciferase in the EPC cells transfected with pGL-Mbap and pGL-Cbap (Figs. 7B, 7C); however, the empty vector pGL-basic demonstrated no luciferase expression at all. These results indicate that the Mractb1 promoter is as active as the carp actb1 promoter and which can be used for transgenesis and gene function studies for prawn and related species in the future.

Discussion

As a house-keeping gene, the promoter of actb1 is cloned from a wide range of organisms and extensively used for gene function and transgenesis studies (Barman et al., 2015; Cho et al., 2011; Hwang et al., 2003; Kong et al., 2014; Liu et al., 1991; Noh et al., 2003). Although the CDS (coding sequence) and 3′ UTR sequence of the Mractb1 gene have been cloned previously (Zhu et al., 2005), the promoter remains to be characterized. In this study, we cloned the upstream sequence of the Mractb1 gene, identified the TSSs, investigated expression of the transcripts in different tissues of both sexes and characterized transcriptional activity of the Mractb1 gene promoter. Both luciferase assays and western blot indicated that the Mractb1 promoter demonstrated comparable transcriptional activity to that of the carp actb1 promoter in the EPC cells, suggesting that it is a valuable tool for gene function and transgenesis studies for Macrobrachium rosenbergii.

Identification of two TSSs and the results of promoter activity assays indicated that the Mractb1 gene possesses two alternative promoters which initiate transcription from different TSSs and lead to the generation of two transcript variants. These two transcript isoforms contain different initial exons but share the same open reading frame (ORF) and 3′ UTR, indicating that they only differ in the 5′ UTR. Existence of alternative promoters is common for mammalian genes. It was reported that 18% of human genes have evidence of alternative promoter usage (Landry, Mager & Wilhelm, 2003). Alternative promoters may differ in tissue and developmental stage specificity and transcriptional activity (Landry, Mager & Wilhelm, 2003). The usage of alternative promoters may account for distinct mRNA levels of the Mractb1 gene transcripts in different tissues and sexes, and different 5′ UTR of the two transcript variants may affect their translation efficiency. Moreover, molecular dissection for the activities of different upstream regions revealed significant synergistic effects between the two alternative promoters. Although the actb1 gene promoters of human and carp were well characterized, it is unknown whether they possess alternative promoters as well.

Three CpG islands were identified in the 5′ flanking sequence of the Mractb1 gene. These CpG islands are closely related to the activity of the Mractb1 gene promoter according to luciferase assays. All of them demonstrated transcriptional activity and both of the identified TSSs are located in the two proximal CpG islands, consistent to the discovery that most CpG islands function as sites of transcription initiation by destabilizing nucleosomes and attracting proteins that create a transcriptionally permissive chromatin state (Deaton & Bird, 2011). CpG islands are prevalent in the promoter of housing keeping (HK) genes and more than three quarters (78.7%) of human HK (housing keeping) genes predominantly have a CpG+/TATA- core promoter (Zhu et al., 2008). CpG-islands usually contain multiple GC-boxes, and GC-boxes coupled with InR elements are essential to initiate transcription in the absence of TATA-box (Butler & Kadonaga, 2002). Consistent with this notion, both GC-box and InR, but no TATA-box were found in the core promoters of the Mractb1 gene.

Genetic elements including the CCAAT-box and CArG-box were reported to be important for the constitutive expression of human and carp actb1 gene (Liu et al., 1990; Quitschke et al., 1989). These elements were also identified in the Mractb1 promoter. Fusing the DNA fragment containing these elements (Mba5) to the proximal promoter sequence (Mba4321) dramatically increased the promoter activity (Figs. 5A, 5E), suggesting the function of these elements in regulating the Mractb1 gene. As in the carp actb1 gene promoter, a distal upstream region (Mba7) was found to negatively regulates the Mractb1 promoter activity. Moreover, the upstream fragment Mba6 and 5′ end of the first intron Mba3, and the interaction between these two regions are necessary for the constitutive transcriptional activity of the Mractb1 gene promoter. These results indicate that in addition to the conservative elements, other unknown elements and factors are involved in regulating the Mractb1 gene.

Conclusions

The beta-actin (Mractb1) gene promoter of M. rosenbergii was cloned and characterized. Two alternative promoters were identified for the Mractb1 gene, which direct the generation of two transcripts with different 5′ UTR. Genetic dissection of the upstream sequence of the Mractb1 gene revealed one distal negative element and two proximal positive elements regulating the activity of the Mractb1 gene promoter. Finally, the Mractb1 promoter demonstrated comparative activity to the carp (Cyprinus carpio) actb1 promoter. Our investigations provide a valuable genetic tool for gene function studies and shed light on the regulation of the Mractb1 gene.

Supplemental Information