Cloning, characterization and comparative analysis of four death receptorTNFRs from the oyster Crassostrea hongkongensis

Apoptosis plays an important role in homeostasis of the immune systems. The tumor necrosis factor receptors (TNFRs) play critical roles in the extrinsic apoptosis pathways and in determining cell fate. In this study, four death receptors (DR) named ChEDAR, ChTNFR27, ChTNFR5, and ChTNFR16 were identified from the oyster Crassostrea hongkongensis. These ChDRs proteins had 382, 396, 414 and 384 amino acids, respectively, with the typical domains of death receptors, such as the signal peptide (SP), transmembrane helix region (TM) and death domains. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the ChDR proteins clustered into three distinct groups, indicating that these subfamilies had common ancestors. mRNA expression of the ChDRs were detected in all 8 of the selected oyster tissues and at different stages of development. Furthermore, expression of all the genes was increased in the hemocytes of oysters challenged with pathogens or air stress. Fluorescence microscopy revealed that the full-length proteins of the ChDRs were located in the plasma membrane of HEK293T cells. Over-expression of the ChDRs activated the NF-κB-Luc reporter in HEK293T cells in a dose-dependent manner. These results indicate that the ChDRs may play important roles in the extrinsic apoptotic pathways in oysters. •Four death receptors named ChEDAR, ChTNFR27, ChTNFR5, and ChTNFR16 were identified.•The ChDRs were expressed in tissues, embryo, and changed after pathogens infection and air stress.•The ChDRs were located in the plasma membrane of HEK293T cells.•The ChDRs activated the NF-κB-Luc reporter in HEK293T cells in a dose-dependent manner.