Identification and classification of innexin gene transcripts in the central nervous system of the terrestrial slug Limax valentianus

PLoS One. 2021 Apr 15;16(4):e0244902. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0244902. eCollection 2021.

Abstract

Intercellular gap junction channels and single-membrane channels have been reported to regulate electrical synapse and the brain function. Innexin is known as a gap junction-related protein in invertebrates and is involved in the formation of intercellular gap junction channels and single-cell membrane channels. Multiple isoforms of innexin protein in each species enable the precise regulation of channel function. In molluscan species, sequence information of innexins is still limited and the sequences of multiple innexin isoforms have not been classified. This study examined the innexin transcripts expressed in the central nervous system of the terrestrial slug Limax valentianus and identified 16 transcripts of 12 innexin isoforms, including the splicing variants. We performed phylogenetic analysis and classified the isoforms with other molluscan innexin sequences. Next, the phosphorylation, N-glycosylation, and S-nitrosylation sites were predicted to characterize the innexin isoforms. Further, we identified 16 circular RNA sequences of nine innexin isoforms in the central nervous system of Limax. The identification and classification of molluscan innexin isoforms provided novel insights for understanding the regulatory mechanism of innexin in this phylum.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Biological Transport / physiology
  • Central Nervous System / physiology
  • Connexins / classification*
  • Connexins / genetics*
  • Electrical Synapses / metabolism
  • Gap Junctions / genetics
  • Gap Junctions / metabolism
  • Gastropoda / genetics*
  • Gastropoda / metabolism
  • Gene Expression / genetics
  • Ion Channels / metabolism
  • Phylogeny
  • Protein Isoforms / genetics
  • Transcriptome / genetics

Substances

  • Connexins
  • Ion Channels
  • Protein Isoforms

Grants and funding

HS, HT1, SK and HT2 were supported by Tokushima Bunri University. SK was supported by Grants-in-Aid for KAKENHI from the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (No. JP20K06750).