cDNA Cloning and Expression of Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen (PCNA) in White Leg Shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) Challenged With Vibrio anguillarum

In present investigation the proliferating cell nuclear antigene (PCNA) of white leg shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) (LvPCNA) has been cloned by rapid amplification of cDNA (RACE) and anchored PCR method. The full length LvPCNA had 1131 bp containing 786 bp of open reading frame (ORF), encoding 261 amino acids with an estimating molecular weight of 28.8 kDa. Tissue distribution of the LvPCNA after real time analysis revealed that expression is high in gill and muscle. The expression level after bacterial challenge of LvPCNA in hepatopancreas suggested the LvPCNA might be involved in defense mechanism of shrimp. The present investigation is a contribution to the existing knowledge of immune responses of shrimp to bacterial challenge. Key word: cDNA cloning, PCNA, bacterial challenge, Litopenaeus vannamei, DNA polymerase δ.