Cloning and activity of the MAPK1 gene and protein during ovary development in giant tiger shrimp

The full-length cDNA of P. monodon mitogen-activating protein kinase 1 (PmMAPK1) is 1,398 bp long and encodes a protein of 365 amino acids.

• PmMAPK1 is expressed more abundantly in the ovaries than in the testes of giant tiger shrimp.
• Quantitative real-time PCR showed that PmMAPK1 mRNA levels peak during early cortical rod stage III ovaries.
• In eyestalk-ablated broodstock, PmMAPK1 expression in early cortical rod and mature ovaries was significantly higher than in earlier ovarian stages.
• The PmMAPK1 transcript is localized in the ooplasm of previtellogenic oocytes.
• In intact broodstock, the PmMAPK1 protein levels increase from previtellogenic to subsequent stages of ovarian development, while remaining stable in eyestalk-ablated broodstock.
• PmMAPK1 protein is localized in the ooplasm of both previtellogenic and vitellogenic oocytes, and around the nuclear membrane of early cortical rod oocytes.

Simplified