Identification of a receptor for activated protein kinase C1 (Pm-RACK1), a cellular gene product from black tiger shrimp (Penaeus monodon) interacts with a protein, VP9 from the white spot syndrome virus.

A gene encoding a receptor for activated protein kinase C1 homolog has been isolated from the shrimp, Penaeus monodon (Pm-RACK1). The full length Pm-RACK1 cDNA has 957 bp, and an open reading frame encoding a protein of 318 amino acid residues. The protein contains seven WD40 repeats and shares approximately 78% identity with vertebrate RACK1. In adult shrimp, Pm-RACK1 transcripts were detected in all tissues. During WSSV infection, Pm-RACK1 was upregulated in hepatopancreas, stomach and hemocytes. We identified Pm-RACK1 as a specific cellular target protein for VP9, a nonstructural protein of WSSV. The interaction of these two proteins may be involved in mediating intracellular VP9 functions.