Molecular Characterization and Expression Pattern of Fetuin-B in Gibel Carp (Carassius auratus gibelio)

Identification and expression analysis of fetuin B (FETUB) in turbot (Scophthalmus maximus L.) mucosal barriers following bacterial challenge

Fetuin B (FETUB), a recently described cysteine proteinase inhibitor, has numerous conserved N-glycosylation sites, species-specific O-glycosylation sites, and two cystatin (CY) domains. FETUB is likely to play regulatory roles in acute inflammation, female infertility, fish organogenesis and tumor suppression. In the present study, transcript of turbot FETUB gene was captured, its protein structure and expression patterns in different tissues with emphasis on mucosal barriers following different bacterial infection were characterized. Turbot FETUB gene showed the closest relationship with Takifugu rubripes in phylogenetic analysis. In addition, FETUB was ubiquitously expressed in all examined tissues with the highest expression level in skin. Finally, FETUB gene showed different expression patterns following both bacterial challenge. The rapidly and significantly differential expression patterns of FETUB in mucosal surfaces against bacterial infections might indicate its key roles to prevent pathogen attachment and entry in turbot mucosal immunity. Functional studies should be carried out to further characterize the FETUB and avail utilization of its function to increase the disease resistance of turbot in maintaining the integrity of the mucosal barriers against infections and to facilitate selection of the fine family/varieties of disease resistance in turbot.

Protein-drug nanoconjugates: Finding the alternative proteins as drug carrier

Present study was conducted to establish the interaction of bovine fetuin-A to validate its binding modalities with doxorubicin (Dox). Fetuin-A was purified to highest purity and monodispersity. Green synthesis of fetuin-A conjugated gold nanoparticles (F-GNPs) has been performed giving typical UV-maxima with subtle variation in fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Atomic force microscopy (AFM) revealed spherical shaped, polydisperse F-GNPs of varying sizes, complementing the radius of hydration (19.5-62.4nm) by dynamic light scattering (DLS). Circular dichroism (CD) analysis of fetuin-A with respect to Dox interaction shows remarkable reduction in ellipticity with increasing concentrations of Dox (20-120μM). Fetuin-A:Dox and F-GNPs:Dox at variable concentrations revealed significantly enhanced absorption spectra, while a continuous decrease in florescence (560nm). This effect was more drastic when Dox interact with fetuin-A as compared to F-GNPs. Some known antimicrobial drugs were also investigated under similar conditions, giving strong quenching effect in a dose dependent manner suggesting the significant yet differential interactions. In cytotoxicity assay, fetuin-A:Dox conjugates revealed less toxicity as compared to F-GNPs:Dox and Dox alone. In-silico studies of the fetuin-A:Dox complex suggest that the drug binds in the major grove between beta-sheet and long loop region of D1 domain and stabilized by several hydrogen bonds.