Abstract: The full-length cDNA sequence ofghitmwere firstly cloned by RACE technique from coelomocytes of sea cucumberApostichopusjaponicusaccording to the EST sequence previously obtained from Genbank, and we named it asAj-ghitm(GenBank:KC886718). The full-length cDNA ofAj-ghitmwas 1325 bp, containing a 5′UTR of 140 bp and a 3′UTR of 180 bp, with an open reading frame of 1005 bp encoding 334 amino acids. SMART analysis showed that the deduced protein has an eight-transmembrane domain. Multiple alignment and phylogenic analysis showed thatAj-GHITM and the sea urchin GHITM were closely clustered in one group with the highest similarity of 65.4%. Quantitative real-time PCR revealed thatAj-ghitmmRNA expression level was decreased first and then increased, finally recovery to the normal level after LPS-induced, with the maximum expression 24 h followed by a lower expression. The findings give a reference for further study of the role of GHITM in the development and anti-bacterial infection in sea cucumber.
2014, Vol. 29 
