IMR Press / JIN / Volume 19 / Issue 2 / DOI: 10.31083/j.jin.2020.02.28
Open Access Original Research
Identification, characterization and expression profiles of PSEN2 in the Chinese tree shrew (Tupaia belangeri chinensis)
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1 Center of Tree Shrew Germplasm Resources, Institute of Medical Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Science and Peking Union Medical College, Kunming, 650118, P. R. China
2 Yunnan Key Laboratory of Vaccine Research and Development on Severe Infectious Diseases, Kunming, 650118, P. R. China
3 Kunming Medical University, Kunming, 650500, P. R. China
*Correspondence: lcx@imbcams.com.cn (Caixia Lu); djj@imbcams.com.cn (Jiejie Dai); sxm@imbcams.com.cn (Xiaomei Sun)
These authors contributed equally.
J. Integr. Neurosci. 2020, 19(2), 249–257; https://doi.org/10.31083/j.jin.2020.02.28
Submitted: 5 February 2020 | Revised: 30 March 2020 | Accepted: 13 April 2020 | Published: 30 June 2020
Copyright: © 2020 Li et al. Published by IMR press.
This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC 4.0 license https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/.
Abstract

The gene PSEN2 encodes presenilin-2, a subunit of γ-secretase. Mutations in PSEN2 are not only related to Alzheimer’s disease but are also involved in other diseases. The Chinese tree shrew (Tupaia belangeri chinensis) is a potential animal model for Alzheimer’s disease, although little is known about its cDNA sequence, protein structure, and PSEN2 expression. To better understand PSEN2 in the tree shrew, we cloned this gene by rapid amplification of cDNA ends technology. Hence, we analyzed the sequence and molecular characteristics of PSEN2 mRNA, predicted its spatial structure, and analyzed its expression profiles. We found that tree shrew PSEN2 is 1539 base pairs in length and encodes 330 amino acids. It is homologous and genetically similar to humans (97.64% identity). The protein structure of tree shrew PSEN2 indicated similarities to human PSEN2, both being comprised of numerous transmembrane helices. However, tree shrew PSEN2 possesses seven α-helices, and thus lacks three compared with human PSEN2. Tree shrew PSEN2 mRNAs were ubiquitously detected in all tissues, with a tissue- and temporal-specific pattern. These results pave the way towards the function of tree shrew PSEN2, which will give insights into the mechanisms leading to neurodegenerative and other diseases in humans.

Keywords
Alzheimer’s disease
tree shrew
presenilin 2
cloning
structural prediction
phylogenetic analysis
neurodegenerative diseases
Funding
2018HB071/Yunnan science and technology talent and platform program
D-2018026/Yunnan health training project of high-level talents
24483/Kunming Science and technology innovation team
U1702282/National Natural Science Foundation of China
KF2015-01/Yunnan Key Laboratory of Vaccine Research and Development on Severe Infectious Diseases
2017ZF007/Yunnan province major science and technology project
Figures
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