Sequence and expression analysis of metallothionein from Litopenaeus vannmei

A 425 bp Litopenaeus vannmei Metallothionein gene (LvMT) cDNA sequence was got from the SMART cDNA library of low temperature treated young Litopenaeus vannmei. The cDNA contained a 98 bp 5' terminal untranslated region (UTR), a 150 bp 3' terminal UTR and a 177 bp open reading frame (ORF) sequence that encoded 58 amino acids (AA). The deduced amino acids sequence was rich in cysteine and Cys-X(1-3)-Cys structure which was classic structure in MT genes. Multiple alignment showed high identity of MT gene from different species, and the identity of Litopenaeus vannmei and Homarus americanus MT was up to 72.4%. The realtime PCR analysis revealed that LvMT mRNA mainly expressed in ovary and high level expression was found in different ovary development stages. Furthermore, the expression of LvMTmRNA was up-regulated in the low temperature treated Litopenaeus vannmei hepatopancreas. The data is useful for the function analysis of LvMT in ovary development and low temperature stress.