Sequence, Expression, and Anti-GCRV Function of the Ferritin from the Grass Carp, Ctenopharyngodon idellus

Ferritin possesses an immune function to defend against pathogen infection. To elucidate the immunity-protecting roles of ferritin from Ctenopharyngodon idellus (Ciferritin) against virus infection, the cDNA and promoter sequences of Ciferritin were determined, and the correlations between Ciferrtin expressions and promoter methylation levels were analyzed. In addition, the functional role of Ciferrtin on GCRV (grass carp reovirus) infection was assessed. The full-length cDNA of Ciferritin is 1053 bp, consists of a 531 bp open-reading frame, and encodes 176 amino acids. Ciferritin showed the highest sequence identity with the ferritin middle subunit of Mylopharyngodon piceus (93.56%), followed by the subunits of Megalobrama amblycephala and Sinocyclocheilus rhinocerous. Ciferritin contains a conserved ferritin domain (interval: 10–94 aa), and the caspase recruitment domain (CARD) and Rubrerythrin domain were also predicted. In the spleen and kidney, significantly higher Ciferritin expressions were observed at 6, 12, 24, or 168 h post GCRV infection than those in the PBS injection group (p < 0.05). The Ciferrtin expression level in the progeny of maternal-immunized grass carp was significantly higher than that in the progeny of common grass carp (p < 0.05). Ciferritin promoter methylation level in the progeny from common grass carp was 1.27 ± 0.15, and in the progeny of the maternal-immunized group was 1.00 ± 0.14. In addition, methylation levels of “CpG9” and “CpG10” loci were significantly lower in the progeny of maternal-immunized fish than those in the common group. Except for the “CpG5”, methylation levels of all other detected “CpG” loci negatively correlated with Ciferritin expression levels. Furthermore, the total methylation level of “CpG1–10” negatively correlated with the Ciferritin expressions. The Ciferritin expression level was significantly up-regulated, and the VP7 protein levels were significantly reduced, at 24 h post GCRV infection in the Ciferritin over-expression cells (p < 0.05). The results from the present study provide sequence, epigenetic modification and expression, and anti-GCRV functional information of Ciferritin, which provide a basis for achieving resistance to GCRV in grass carp breeding.