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  3. Dephosphorylation at Ser548 regulates hemocyanin-derived antibacterial peptides and immune defense in Penaeus vannamei

Dephosphorylation at Ser548 regulates hemocyanin-derived antibacterial peptides and immune defense in Penaeus vannamei

  • iScience. 2026 Feb 21;29(3):115119. doi: 10.1016/j.isci.2026.115119.
Qian Feng 1 2,  Maoshuai Fu 1,  Xianliang Zhao 1,  Yongzhen Zhao 3,  Qingyun Liu 3,  Jude Juventus Aweya 1 4,  Yueling Zhang 1
Affiliations

Affiliations

  • 1 Institute of Marine Sciences and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Marine Biotechnology, Shantou University, Shantou, China.
  • 2 Department of Medical Laboratory and Department of Reproductive Medicine, Luohu Clinical College of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou University, Shantou, China.
  • 3 Guangxi Academy of Fishery Sciences, Guangxi Key Laboratory of Aquatic Genetic Breeding and Healthy Aquaculture, Nanning 530021, China.
  • 4 Department of Food and Human Nutritional Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada.
PMID: 41852743 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2026.115119
Abstract

Phosphorylation plays a critical role in regulating immune responses in invertebrates. In Penaeus vannamei, hemocyanin, a multifunctional immune protein, is cleaved to produce antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) essential for pathogen defense. This study identifies Ser548 phosphorylation of the hemocyanin small subunit (PvHMCs) as a key regulator of trypsin-mediated hemocyanin degradation and antimicrobial peptides production. Dephosphorylation of Ser548, controlled by PvCK2α kinase and PvPP2AC Phosphatase, enhances cleavage, generating peptides with strong Antibacterial activity against Vibrio parahaemolyticus and Streptococcus iniae. Phosphorylation inhibits this process, reducing peptide production and immune efficacy. In vivo, Ser548 dephosphorylation improves Bacterial clearance and enhances shrimp survival. These findings reveal a critical molecular mechanism underlying shrimp immunity and suggest targeting hemocyanin phosphorylation to boost disease resistance in aquaculture.

Keywords

biochemistry; immunology; microbiology.

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