Cuticular chitin synthase and chitinase mRNA of whiteleg shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei during the molting cycle

Molecular characterization and expression analysis of five chitinases associated with molting in the Chinese mitten crab, Eriocheir sinensis

“…6). Levels of mRNA expression of EsCht2 in the cuticle were concordant with the fluctuation of ecdysone during the molting cycle, indicating that EsCht2 might play a key role in epidermal exoskeleton degradation (Jiang et al, 1992;Rocha et al, 2012). Previous studies have reported that ecdysone regulates crustacean molting processes.…”

Chitinase gene responses and tissue sensitivity in an intertidal mud crab (Macrophthalmus japonicus) following low or high salinity stress

“…In some studies, their physiological and biological functions were determined or predicted based on transcriptional and/or protein levels (Huang et al 2010;Proespraiwong et al 2010;Salma et al 2012;Rocha et al 2012;Tan et al 2000;Watanabe et al 1998;Zhang et al 2010Zhang et al , 2014. Crustacean chitinase gene responses related to development, growth, and immunity have been reported substantially, while less research has been reported on how environmental changes (temperature, salinity, etc.)…”

“…Hepatopancreas has been shown to be the site of synthesis of digestive enzymes (Lehnert and Johnson 2002), and Huang et al (2010) indicate that CHT1 may function mainly in chitincont ai ning food digestion and degradation of endogeneous chitin in the gut peritrophic membrane before molting. Moreover, Tan et al (2000) also reported that gene coding for Penaeus monodon chitinase 1 (denoted as PmChi-1) was mainly expressed in hepatopancreas, less in the intestine, stomach, and antenna suggesting that hepatopancreatic chitinases and chitin metabolism-related genes not only function as digestive enzymes for ingested chitin but are also involved in the digestion of endogenic stomach chitin, during the premolt stage in crustaceans (Yudkovski et al 2007;Rocha et al 2012). Moreover, L. vannamei chitinase 5 (CHT5) has been expressed in all the tissues tested (hepatopancreas, intestine, cuticle, gill, eyestalk, heart, muscle, and hemocyte) and the highest expression was reported in muscle followed by cuticle and with similar expression in the gill and heart (Huang et al 2010).…”

The responsive expression of a chitinase gene in the ridgetail white prawn Exopalaemon carinicauda against Vibrio anguillarum and WSSV challenge

“…To date, Chi gene have been isolated from some crustaceans (Salma et al 2012;Rocha et al 2012;Proespraiwong et al 2010;Zhang et al 2010;Huang et al 2010;Watanabe et al 1998). However, little is known about the potential role of Chi in ridgetail white prawn E. carinicauda against pathogens like Vibrio anguillarum and WSSV.…”

“…Chitin, a linear homopolymer composed of β-(1, 4)-Nacetyl-D -glucosamine (GlcNAc), are the major components in the cell walls of fungi, the exoskeleton of arthropod, the shell and radulae of mollusks, the microfilarial sheath of parasitic nematodes, and the lining of the digestive tracts of many insects (Rocha et al 2012;Zhang et al 2012). Chitin can provide mechanical rigidity to extracellular structure in animal such as insect exoskeletons and shells of crustaceans (Okada et al 2013;Flach et al 1992) and form a physical barrier against invading microorganisms (Mali et al 2004).…”