A Functional Study of Transforming Growth Factor-Beta from the Gonad of Pacific Oyster Crassostrea gigas

The transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta superfamily is a group of important growth factors involved in multiple processes such as differentiation, cell proliferation, apoptosis and cellular growth. In the Pacific oyster Crassostrea gigas, the oyster gonadal (og) TGF-beta gene was recently characterized through genome-wide expression profiling of oyster lines selected to be resistant or susceptible to summer mortality. Og TGF-beta appeared specifically expressed in the gonad to reach a maximum when gonads are fully mature, which singularly contrasts with the pleiotropic roles commonly ascribed to most TGF-beta family members. The function of og TGF-beta protein in oysters is unknown, and defining its role remains challenging. In this study, we develop a rapid bacterial production system to obtain recombinant og TGF-beta protein, and we demonstrate that og TGF-beta is processed by furin to a mature form of the protein. This mature form can be detected in vivo in the gonad. Functional inhibition of mature og TGF-beta in the gonad was conducted by inactivation of the protein using injection of antibodies. We show that inhibition of og TGF-beta function tends to reduce gonadic area. We conclude that mature og TGF-beta probably functions as an activator of germ cells development in oyster.