Abstract:
Heat shock proteins 10/60 (hsp10/60) are a family of conserved ubiquitously expressed heat shock proteins which are produced by cells in response to exposure to stressful conditions. Besides the chaperone and housekeeping functions, they are also known to be involved in immune response during bacterial infection. In this study, we identified and annotated 10
hsp10/60 genes through bioinformatic analysis in Japanese flounder (
Paralichthys olivaceus). Among them one member of
hsp10 (
hspe) family and nine members of
hsp60 (
hspd) family were identified. Phylogenetic and selection pressure analysis showed that the
hsp10/60 genes were evolutionarily constrained and their function was conserved. Besides,
hsp10/60 genes were involved in different embryonic and larval stages and acted as the sentinel role in an unchallenged organism. In addition, we also observed the expression patterns of
hsp10/60 genes after
Edwardsiella tarda infection, for the first time in Japanese flounder. Eight out of 10 genes were differentially expressed after bacterial challenges, the significantly regulated expressions of flounder
hsp10/60 genes after bacterial infections suggested their involvement in immune response in flounder. Our results provide valuable information for clarifying the evolutionary relationship, and early insights of the immune functions of
hsp10/60 genes in Japanese flounder.