engleski

A novel ABC transporter: the first insight into zebrafish (Danio rerio) Abch1

Abch1 is a novel ABC transporter found in fish lineage. The aim of this study was to characterise zebrafish Abch1 using phylogenetic analysis, membrane topology prediction and tissue expression pattern determined by qRT-PCR. Phylogenetic analysis confirmed that no Abch1 orthologs can be found in other vertebrates, but similar genes have been found in invertebrate species. Abch1 is most closely related to the ABCG subfamily, although it shares only 12-14% of amino acid sequence identity with ABCG subfamily members. Topology analysis indicated that Abch1 is a half transporter that consists of six transmembrane domains with reverse domain arrangement (TMD-ABC), like ABCG subfamily members, but with differences in loop organization. Tissue distribution pattern revealed the highest Abch1 expression in brain and gill, followed by lower expression in gut, gonads and liver. Taken together, we hypothesise that fish Abch1 may be either involved in sterol transport similar to ABCG1, or is a part of the MXR defence like ABCG2. These questions remain to be addressed in further research.

Abch subfamily ; zebrafish ; phylogeny ; membrane topology ; tissue distribution

Rad je prezentiran na skupu Fifteenth International Symposium on Pollutant Responses in Marine Organisms (PRIMO15), održanom od 17.-20.05.2009., Bordeaux, Francuska.