Immunological function and antibacterial activity of two ferritin proteins from the freshwater pearl mussel Hyriopsis schlegelii
Ferritin is a conserved iron-binding protein involved in host defense and cellular iron metabolism in most organisms. We investigated the expression profiles of two ferritin genes (designated HsFer-1 and HsFer-2) in the hemocytes, gonad, and hepatopancreas of Hyriopsis schlegelii, when challenged with bacteria and metal ions. HsFer gene transcription increased 1.8-7.7- and 1.9-6.1-fold in these tissues after stimulation with Staphylococcus aureus and Vibrio anguillarum, respectively.