Cloning and structural analysis of the vitellogenin cDNA of the Chinese mitten crab Eriocheir sinensis

Abstract:

The present study was focused on the cloning of vitellogenin cDNA sequence of Eriocheir sinensis by the methods of RT RCR and RACE. The structure of the sequence was also analyzed. It was found that the vitellogenin cDNA of Eriocheir sinensis is of 7 955 bp, which contained 7 689 bp of an open reading frame (ORF), 62 bp of the 5′UTR and 204 bp of the 3′UTR, respectively. The further analysis showed that this gene maybe encode a kind of protein of 2 562 amino acid residues， compared with other crabs whose Vg sequences are known, their physicochemical properties and spatial structure are similar, and all contain 2 kinds of structural domains: the N terminal domain of vitellogenin with the function of lipid traffic, and the von Willebrand factor D type domain. The identities of the amino acid sequence of vitellogenin were about 33%-77% compared with other known crustacean species.This confirmed the functional consistency in crabs and individual differences,and makes our research about growth more in depth.It can be applied in more rational production guidance and can create greater economic values.