In silico characterization of interferon-stimulated gene (ISG15) as a biomarker for early pregnancy diagnosis in Bubalus bubalis

Abstract

Reproductive management of livestock is the foremost requirement for increasing production from any dairy animal. High reproductive efficiency can be achieved by implementation of one of the crucial management practices which involves early differentiation of pregnant and non-pregnant animals. The early and precise pregnancy diagnosis is the major problem in Bubalus bubalis (buffalo) due to absence of estrous signs instead of normal cyclicity of reproductive organs. Therefore, in the present study, one of the conceptus derived protein interferon stimulated protein (15 kDa) released during 18 to 21 days after insemination in response to implantation of embryo was in silico characterized. The protein expressed by interferon-stimulated gene-15 (ISG15) was analyzed by isolation and sequencing of coding region of mRNA. The primary and secondary structures were predicted from the protein sequence to decipher the interaction of ISG15 protein with other molecules. The functional characterization identifies various motifs present in ISG15 protein which are responsible for its interaction with other proteins. Physiochemical properties predicted the ISG15 protein nature during in vitro conditions which are required for any of the assays development. In addition, immunogenic studies revealed ISG15 protein is strongly antigenic in nature and can be used for antibody production. In conclusion, ISG15 protein expression from buffalo is a good indicator of conceptus implantation and has suitable properties for being used as target to develop early pregnancy diagnostic kits.

Keywords

• Biomarker
• Bubalus bubalis
• Characterization
• In silico
• ISG15
• Pregnancy detection Present address