Two type I crustacean hyperglycemic hormone (CHH) genes in Morotoge shrimp (Pandalopsis japonica): Cloning and expression of eyestalk and pericardial organ isoforms produced by alternative splicing and a novel type I CHH with predicted structure shared with type II CHH peptides

Crustacean hyperglycemic hormone (CHH) peptide family members play critical roles in growth and reproduction in decapods. Three cDNAs encoding CHH family members (Pj-CHH1ES, Pj-CHH1PO, and Pj-CHH2) were isolated by a combination of bioinformatic analysis and conventional cloning strategies. Pj-CHH1ES and Pj-CHH1PO were products of the same gene that were generated by alternative mRNA splicing, whereas Pj-CHH2 was the product of a second gene. The Pj-CHH1 and Pj-CHH2 genes had four exons and three introns, suggesting the two genes arose from gene duplication. The three cDNAs were classified in the type I CHH subfamily, as the deduced amino acid sequences had a CHH precursor-related peptide sequence positioned between the N-terminal signal sequence and C-terminal mature peptide sequence. The Pj-CHH1ES isoform was expressed at a higher level in the eyestalk X-organ/sinus gland (XO/SG) complex and at a lower level in the gill. The Pj-CHH1PO isoform was expressed at higher levels in the XO/SG complex, brain, abdominal ganglion, and thoracic ganglion and at a lower level in the epidermis. Pj-CHH2 was expressed at a higher level in the thoracic ganglion and at a lower level in the gill. Real-time polymerase chain reaction was used to quantify the effects of eyestalk ablation on the mRNA levels of the three Pj-CHHs in the brain, thoracic ganglion, and gill. Eyestalk ablation reduced expression of Pj-CHH1ES in the brain and Pj-CHH1PO and Pj-CHH2 in the thoracic ganglion. Sequence alignment of the Pj-CHHs with CHHs from other species indicated that Pj-CHH2 had an additional alanine at position #9 of the mature peptide. Molecular modeling showed that the Pj-CHH2 mature peptide had a short alpha helix (α1) in the N-terminal region, which is characteristic of type II CHHs. This suggests that Pj-CHH2 differs in function from other type I CHHs.