Hua RongFan LinLijun NingKun WuBaojia ChenJia ZhengSamwel Mchele LimbuXiaobo Wen2022-08-052022-08-052022-05-25Hua Rong, Fan Lin, Lijun Ning, Kun Wu, Baojia Chen, Jia Zheng, Samwel Mchele Limbu and Xiaobo Wen (2022). Cloning, tissue distribution and mRNA expression analysis of typeIcollagen alpha 1 gene from Chu's croaker (Nibea coibor). Gene, 824: 146441. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gene.2022.146441.http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11810/5878The demand for collagen has been increasing over years due to its wide application in food, cosmetics and biomedicine industries. The synthesis of collagen protein in fish depends on instructions provided by collagen, type I, alpha 1 (COL1A1) gene. However, cloning, tissue distribution and mRNA expression of COL1A1 gene in a gel-producing Chu's croaker (Nibea coibor) is currently unknown. This study cloned the cDNA of COL1A1 gene (GenBank accession number: MK641512) from six N. coibor fish. The distribution and mRNA expression pattern of COL1A1 was analyzed in eight tissues of N. coibor. The COL1A1 cDNA had a full length of 6130 bp and contained a 4344 bp open reading frame (ORF) encoding a polypeptide of 1448 amino acids. The homology of N. coibor COL1A1 amino acid had 98% similarity with Larimichthys crocea, indicating conservatism with other members in same family (Sciaenidae). The deduced polypeptide contained the same signal peptides, C-propeptide and N-propeptide domains, and triple helix domains, which are the characteristics of type I collagen in vertebrates. The mRNA of COL1A1 gene was expressed significantly higher in the spine of N. coibor than in all other tissues (P < 0.05), followed by swim bladder, skin and scales. The swim bladder had higher collagen and hydroxyproline contents than other tissues, followed by spine >, scales > and > skin (P < 0.05). Our study successfully cloned the COL1A1 gene from N. coibor for the first time. The COL1A1 gene contained all the features of collagen pro-α1(I) chain proteins, and shared high homology with other marine teleost. COL1A1 gene in N. coibor is highly expressed in spine and swim bladder, consistent with collagen distribution. Our study contributes to better understanding on collagen biosynthesis in N. coibor tissues for various industrial uses.enNibea coiborCOL1A1 genecDNA cloningCollagen synthesisChu’s croaker swim bladderJournal Article, Peer Reviewedhttps://doi.org/10.1016/j.gene.2022.146441