Analysis of expressed sequence tags (EST) obtained from common carp, Cyprinus carpio L., head kidney cells after stimulation by two mitogens, lipopolysaccharide and concanavalin-A.

A representative cDNA library from mRNA obtained from lipopolysaccharide and concanavalin-A-induced head kidney cells of carp, Cyprinus carpio, was constructed. Two hundred single pass and partially sequenced clones (AU183343 to AU183542) were generated from expressed sequence tags (ESTs) and these were searched for homology in the DDBJ/GENBANK with blastN and blastX programs. Clones matching known genes were classified according to their function and distribution. One hundred and twenty-nine genes showed homology with known genes in databases, whereas 71 (35.5%) clones did not show any significant homology to sequences in the public database. Known genes also showed homology to fish genes deposited in the database. Twenty-two clones (11%), encoding 16 different sequences, were identified as putative biodefense and oncogenes, associated with an immune response. High expression of lysozyme (3%) was detected. Putatively identified biodefense-related sequences such as Lectin type 2, MHC class II invariant chain, mcl-1a and lysozyme were aligned with known homologues from the database and the percentage identity determined. A time course evaluation of gene expression due to mitogen stimulation by RT-PCR revealed the above mentioned gene homologues were switched on early during the cell proliferation.