c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) in Procambarus clarkii: Molecular characterization and involvement in oxidative stress-induced apoptosis during molting cycle.

Abstract The present study was conducted to characterize the full-length cDNA of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) in Procambarus clarkii (Pcjnk) and evaluate its potential function under different molt cycle. The full-length cDNA of Pcjnk covered 2937 bp with an open reading frame of 1320 bp, encoding 439 amino acids. A typical conserved TPY motif (118Thr-Pro-120Tyr) was found in Pcjnk. Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) analysis revealed a constitutive expression of Pcjnk in the tested tissue, with the highest expression occurring in the hepatopancreas. Additionally, the present study initially revealed that relative mRNA expression of Pcjnk and apoptosis level were significantly higher in the premolt stage (D1/D2 and D3/D4 stage) as compared to other molt stages. In contrast to the levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GPX) level decreased significantly from the intermolt stage (C stage) to the premolt stage (D1/D2 and D3/D4 stage), then increased from the premolt stage to the postmolt stage (A and B stage). The results obtained in the present study indicated that molt could cause apoptosis induced by oxidative stress through the activation of JNK in Procambarus clarkii.