A syntenin-like protein with postsynaptic density protein (PDZ) domains produced by black tiger shrimp Penaeus monodon in response to white spot syndrome virus infection.

We report the isolation and characterization of products from a subtractive cDNA library from the haemolymph of Penaeus monodon experimentally infected with white spot syndrome virus (WSSV). One cDNA derived from up-regulated mRNA was identified. A homology search indicated similarity to the putative protein syntenin (TE8). The nearly complete nucleotide sequence of TE8 was obtained by rapid amplification of cDNA (RACE). Its putative protein product contained a tandem repeat of PDZ domains (postsynaptic density protein or PSD-95, DlgA and ZO-1). We propose that TE8 may function as an adapter that couples PDZ-binding protein(s) in a signaling pathway involved in the shrimp response to WSSV.