Heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70) and heat shock transcription factor (Hsf) gene families in

Abstract

Genome-wide characterisation and correlation analysis between gene families and environmental stresses are important for understanding the adaptive evolution of marine animals to various environments. Heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70) and heat shock transcription factor (Hsf) are two important gene families that are associated with abiotic stresses and immune responses. In this study, the evolutionary history and function of Hsp70 and Hsf family genes were investigated in Cynoglossus semilaevis through an exhaustive search of all genomic resources. In addition, their regulatory mechanisms and cooperative relationship in marine fishes were investigated in response to various degrees of salinity stress. Gene structure, motif analysis and phylogenetic trees among various organisms provide references for biological and evolutionary studies of these genes. Most Hsp70 genes were upregulated under low salinity stress, especially heat shock protein family A member 5 (hspa5), whereas hsf1 and hsf2 were downregulated. The expression profile of Hsp70 genes under low salinity stress decreased the activity of hsf1 and hsf2, suggesting that transcriptional repression of Hsf occurs when a certain level of Hsp70 is reached. These findings may improve our understanding the regulatory mechanisms between Hsp70 and Hsf gene families in response to environmental stress and provide useful resources for future studies on these gene families.

Genome-Wide Identification, Molecular Characterization, and Involvement in Response to Abiotic and Biotic Stresses of the HSP70 Gene Family in Turbot (Scophthalmus maximus)

“…Heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) gene family members are involved in various housekeeping and stress-related activities in all organisms from bacteria to mammals [ 36 , 37 ]. Due to their important roles, especially in enhancing the response of cells to various stress stimuli, the HSP70 gene family has been extensively studied in a variety of aquaculture species, including invertebrate [ 38 ], bivalve [ 39 ], and multiple teleost species [ 14 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 23 ]. Nevertheless, a systematic analysis of HSP70 genes in the turbot has been lacking.…”

“…Moreover, a total of 20 HSP70 gene family members have been found in the Boleophthalmus pectinirostris , with most of these genes downregulated after exposure to high concentrations of ammonia [ 20 ]. Furthermore, 14 HSP70 genes have been detected in the Cynoglossus semilaevis through database searches and by manual selection, and expression profiles have demonstrated that most of these gene family members, especially hspa5, showed upregulated expression after exposure to low-salinity stress [ 21 ]. Moreover, a total of 16 HSP70 genes were detected in the genome of the rainbow trout ( Oncorhynchus mykiss ); in addition, an RNA-seq analysis indicated that 4 and 7 HSP70 gene family members showed significantly upregulated expression after heat stress in liver and head kidney tissues, respectively [ 22 ].…”

Molecular Mechanisms Underlying Vertebrate Adaptive Evolution: A Systematic Review

“…Additionally, in sticklebacks, it has been proposed that some of the marineenvironment-specific advantageous variation can be inherited in clusters as a unit [74]. The differential expression of genes including transcription factors associated with stress response and immune responses has been observed in the tongue sole fish in response to a variation in the salinity content of the water [75]. Both cis-and trans-regulatory variations are suggested to modify the expression patterns of the genes (e.g., GLA and IGFLR1) associated with these processes [70,71,73].…”