Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Biological Activities of Vitellogenin and Its Mechanism

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Vitellogenin in Fishes- Diversification, Biological Properties, and Future Perspectives

  • 89 Accesses

Abstract

Over the past 10 years, our understanding of the roles played by vitellogenin (Vtg) in reproduction has established. Vtg was once believed to be a female-specific reproductive protein that breaks down into yolk proteins including phosvitin (Pv) and lipovitellin (Lv), which are kept in eggs and give early embryos nourishment. Recent research has shown that Vtg functions as an immuno-component factor that can protect the host against attack by bacteria and viruses. Moreover, in developing embryos, Pv and Lv, which are also proteolytically cleaved products of maternal Vtg, have an antibacterial role, and Vtg has antioxidant characteristics that can protect cells from free radical damage. These findings show that Vtg not only contributes to the production of yolk proteins but also plays non-nutritional roles by acting as immune-relevant molecules and antioxidant agents. Vtgs are discovered to exhibit antioxidant activity, to shield the host from oxidative stress, in addition to these immune-relevant tasks. Understanding the physiological activities that the molecules play on non-nutritional functions also establishes a strong foundation for the molecules’ potential usage in the future to advance human health.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 169.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Hardcover Book
USD 219.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Abbreviations

DNA:

Deoxy ribonucleic acid

DUF:

Domain of unknown factor

E2:

Estradiol-17β

EDCs:

Endocrine-disrupting chemicals

EEDCs:

Oestrogenic-like endocrine-disrupting chemicals

ELISA:

Enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay

ERE:

Oestrogen response element

ERs:

Oestrogen receptors

FSH:

Follicle-stimulating hormone

GnRH:

Gonadotropin-releasing hormone

IPNV:

Infectious pancreas necrosis virus

Ldlr:

Low-density lipoprotein receptor

LPS:

Lipopolysaccharide

LTA:

Lipoteichoic acid

Lv:

Lipovitellin

PAMPs:

Pathogen-associated molecular patterns

PGN:

Peptidoglycan

Pv:

Phosvitin

RNA:

Ribonucleic acid

TTX:

Tetraodotoxin

VLDL:

Very-low-density lipoprotein

Vtg:

Vitellogenin

vWD:

Willebrand factor type domain

YPs:

Yolk proteins

References

  • Amdam GV, Norberg K, Page RE, Erber J, Scheiner R (2006) Down regulation of vitellogenin gene activity increases the gustatory responsiveness of honey beeworkers (Apis mellifera). Behav Brain Res 169:201–205

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Ando S, Yanagida K (1999) Susceptibility to oxidation of copper-induced plasma lipoproteins from Japanese eel: protective effect of vitellogenin on the oxidation of very low density lipoprotein. Comp Biochem Physiol C Pharmacol Toxicol Endocrinol 123:1–7

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Barim-Oz O, Sahin H (2016) The influence of dietary antioxidant on ovarian eggs and levels of vitamin E, C, a, astaxanthin, β-carotene and oxidative stress in tissues of Astacusleptodactylus (Eschscholtz) during reproduction. Cell Mol Biol 62:1–10

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dale K, Rasinger J, Thorstensen K, Penglase S (2017) Ellingsen S vitamin E reduces endosulfan induced toxic effects on morphology and behavior in early development of zebrafish (Danio rerio). Food Chem Toxicol 101:84–93

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Davis LK, Hiramatsu N, Hiramatsu K (2007) Induction of three vitellogenins by 17 beta-estradiol with concurrent inhibition of the growth hormone-insulin like growth factor 1 axis in a euryhaline teleost, the tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus). Biol Reprod 77:614–625

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dhadialla TS, Raikhel AS (1990) Biosynthesis of mosquito vitellogenin. J Biol Chem 265:9924–9933

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ellis AE (1988) Fish vaccination. Academic Press, New York, NY

    Google Scholar 

  • Finn RN, Kristoffersen BA (2007) Vertebrate vitellogenin gene duplication in relation to the 3R hypothesis: correlation to the pelagic egg and the oceanic radiation of teleosts. PLoS One 2:169

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fischer M, Regitz C, Kull R, Boll M, Wenzel U (2013) Vitellogenins increase stress resistance of Caenorhabditis elegans after Photorhabdusluminescens infection depending on the steroid-signaling pathway. Microbes Infect 15:569–578

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Garcia J, Munro ES, Monte MM, Fourrier MC, Whitelaw J, Smail DA, Ellis AE (2010) Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) serum vitellogenin neutralises infectivity of infectious pancreatic necrosis virus (IPNV). Fish Shellfish Immunol 29:293

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Giesy JP, Snyder EM (1998) Xenobiotic modulation of endocrine function in fish. In: Kendall RJ, Dickerson RL, Giesy JP, Suk WA (eds) Principles and processes for evaluating endocrine disruption in wildlife. SETAC Press, Pensacola, FL, pp 155–237

    Google Scholar 

  • Guidugli KR, Nascimento AM, Amdam GV, Barchuk AR, Omholt S, Simões ZL, Hartfelder K (2005) Vitellogenin regulates hormonal dynamics in the worker caste of a eusocial insect. FEBS Lett 579:4961–4965

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hara A, Hiramatsu N, Fujita T (2016) Vitellogenesis and choriogenesis in fish. Fish Sci 82:187–202

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hiramatsu N, Cheek AO, Sullivan CV, Matsubara T, Hara A (2005) Vitellogenesis and endocrine disruption. In: Mommsen TP, Moon TW (eds) Biochemistry and molecular biology of fishes, vol 6. Elsevier Science, London, pp 431–471

    Google Scholar 

  • Islinger M, Willimski D, Völkl A, Braunbeck T (2003) Effects of 17α-ethinylestradiolon the expression of three estrogen-responsive genes and cellular ultrastructure of liver and testes in male Zebrafish. Aquat Toxicol 62:85–103

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Laskowski M (1935) Der Stellungsmethode des Serum Vitellins. Biochem Z 278:345–348

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Li H, Zhang S (2017) Functions of vitellogenin in eggs. Oocytes 63:389–401

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Li Z, Zhang S, Liu Q (2008) Vitellogenin functions as a multivalent pattern recognition receptor with an opsonic activity. PLoS One 3:1940

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liu QH, Zhang SC, Li ZJ, Gao CR (2009) Characterization of a pattern recognition molecule vitellogenin from carp (Cyprinus carpio). Immunobiology 214:257–267

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Liu M, Pan J, Ji H, Zhao B, Zhang S (2011) Vitellogenin mediates phagocytosis through interaction with FcR. Mol Immunol 49:211–218

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lu A, Hu X, Xue J, Zhu J, Wang Y, Zhou G (2011) Gene expression profiling in the skin of zebrafish infected with Citrobacter freundii. Fish Shellfish Immunol 32:273–283

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lu A, Hu X, Xue J, Zhu J, Wang Y, Zhou G (2012) Gene expression profiling in the skin of zebrafish infected with Citrobacter freundii. Fish Shellfish Immunol 32:273–283

    Google Scholar 

  • Lu A, Hu X, Wang Y, Shen X, Zhu A, Shen L, Ming Q, Feng Z (2013) Comparative analysis of the acute response of zebra fish Danio rerio skin to two different bacterial infections. J Aquat Anim Health 25:243–251

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lubzens E, Young G, Bobe J, Cerdà J (2010) Oogenesis in teleosts: how eggs are formed. Gen Comp Endocrinol 165:367–389

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ma L, Li D, Wang J, He J, Yin Z (2009) Effects of adrenergic agonists on the extra hepatic expression of vitellogenin Ao1 in heart and brain of the Chinese rare minnow (Gobiocyprisrarus). Aquat Toxicol 18:19–25

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Magnado’ttir B, Lange S, Steinarsson A, Gudmundsdo’ttir S (2004) The ontogenic development of innate immune parameters of cod (Gadus morhua L). Comp Biochem Physiol B Biochem Mol Biol 139:217–224

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McIndoe WM (1960) Changes in the protein content of yolk during chick embryogenesis. Development 8:47–53

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Müller W, Vergauwen J, Eens M, Blount JD (2012) Environmental effects shape the maternal transfer of carotenoids and vitamin E to the yolk. Front Zool 9:1–11

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nelson CM, Ihle KE, Fondrk MK, Page RE, Amdam GV (2007) The gene vitellogenin has multiple coordinating effects on social organization. PLoS Biol 5:0673–0677

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pan ML, Bell WJ, Telfer WH (1969) Vitellogenic blood protein synthesis by insect fat body. Science 165:393–394

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Reading BJ, Hiramatsu N, Sawaguchi S (2009) Conserved and variant molecular and functional features of multiple egg yolk precursor proteins (vitellogenins) in white perch (Morone americana) and other teleosts. Mar Biotechnol 11:169–187

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Reading BJ, Hiramatsu N, Sullivan CV (2011) Disparate binding of three types of vitellogenin to multiple forms of vitellogenin receptor in white perch. Biol Reprod 84:392–399

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Reading BJ, Sullivan CV (2011) The reproductive organs and processes|Vitellogenesis in fishes. Encyclopedia of fish physiology:635–646

    Google Scholar 

  • Selim SA, Gaafar KM, Elballal SS (2012) Influence of in-ovo administration with vitamin E and ascorbic acid on the performance of Muscovy ducks. Emirates J Food Agric 24:264–271

    Google Scholar 

  • Shi X, Zhang S, Pang Q (2006) Vitellogenin is a novel player in defense reactions. Fish Shellfish Immunol 20:769

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Shyu AB, Raff RA, Blumenthal T (1986) Expression of the vitellogenin gene in female and male sea urchin. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 83:3865–3869

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Sumpter JP (1997) Environmental control of fish reproduction: a different perspective. Fish Physiol Biochem 17:25–31

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sumpter JP, Jobling S (1995) Vitellogenesis as a biomarker for estrogenic contamination of the aquatic environment. Environ Health Perspect 103:173–178

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Sun C, Hu L, Liu S, Gao Z, Zhang S (2013) Functional analysis of domain of unknown function (DUF) 1943, DUF1944 and von Willebrand factor type D domain (VWD) in vitellogenin 2 in zebrafish. Dev Com Immunol 41:469–476

    Google Scholar 

  • Sun C, Zhang S (2015) Immune-relevant and antioxidant activities of vitellogenin and yolk proteins in fish. Nutrients 7:8818–8829

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Tong Z, Li LR, Zhang S (2010) Vitellogenin is an acute phase protein with bacterial-binding and inhibiting activities. Immunobiology 215:898–902

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wang H, Tan JTT, Emelyanov A, Krozh V, Gong Z (2005) Hepatic and extrahepatic expression of vitellogenin genes in the zebrafish, Danio rerio. Gene 356:91–100

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wang R, Gao Y, Zhang L, Zhang Y, Fang Z, He J, Zhang W, Ma G (2010) Cloning, expression, and induction by 17-β estradiol (E2) of a vitellogenin gene in the white cloud mountain minnow Tanichthysalbonubes. Fish Physiol Biochem 36:157–164

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wang J, Ma S, Zhang Z, Zheng M, Dong Y, Ru S (2017) Vitellogenin induction in caudal fin of guppy (Poecilia reticulata) as a less invasive and sensitive biomarker for environmental estrogens. Sci Rep 7:7647

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Williams VN, Reading BJ, Amano H (2017) Proportional accumulation of yolk proteins derived from multiple vitellogeninsis precisely regulated during vitellogenesis in striped bass(Morone saxatilis). J Exp Zool A Ecol Genet Physiol 321:301–315

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yilmaz O, Patinote A, Nguyen T, Com E, Pineau C, Bobe J (2019) Genome editing reveals reproductive and developmental dependencies on specific types of vitellogenin in zebrafish (Danio rerio). Mol Reprod Dev 86:1168–1188

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Yin N, Jin X, He J, Yin Z (2009) Effects of adrenergic agents on the expression of zebrafish (Danio rerio) vitellogenin Ao1. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 238:20–26

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang SC, Sun YN, Pang QX, Shi XD (2005) Hemagglutinating and antibacterial activities of vitellogenin. Fish Shellfish Immunol 19:93–95

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang S, Wang S, Li H, Li L (2011) Vitellogenin, a multivalent sensor and an antimicrobial effector. Int J Biochem Cell Biol 43:303–305

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang S, Dong Y, Cui P (2015) Vitellogenin is an immunocompetent molecule for mother and offspring in fish. Fish Shellfish Immunol 46:710

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgement

The author gratefully acknowledges the Science and Engineering Research Board, India, New Delhi, India, for the financial assistance Rendered [Ref: PDF/2020/001027].

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Mandapam Regional Centre, ICAR—Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute, Mandapam, Tamil Nadu, India

    Ramachandran Ishwarya & Govindan Tamilmani

  2. ICAR—Central Institute of Brackishwater Aquaculture (CIBA), Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India

    Rengarajan Jayakumar

Authors
  1. Ramachandran Ishwarya
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Govindan Tamilmani
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Rengarajan Jayakumar
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Animal Health and Management, Alagappa University, Karaikudi, Tamil Nadu, India

    Vaseeharan Baskaralingam

  2. Anatomy Department, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand

    Rapeepun Vanichviriyakit

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2023 The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd.

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Ishwarya, R., Tamilmani, G., Jayakumar, R. (2023). Biological Activities of Vitellogenin and Its Mechanism. In: Baskaralingam, V., Vanichviriyakit, R. (eds) Vitellogenin in Fishes- Diversification, Biological Properties, and Future Perspectives. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-99-5340-0_16

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation