Sequence Analysis，Cloning and Expression of a Putative Cytokine Receptor Gene of White spot syndrome virus

One ORF of White spot syndrome virus(WSSV)genome has homology with the cytokine receptor．This ORF contains 2022 nucleotides and codes for 674 amino acids with a theoretical molecular weight of 76 kDa．Th is putative gene contains one conserved motif of eukaryotic cytokine receptor gpl30．To investigate the function of this protein，the gene was amplified from the genome of WSSV by polymerase chain reaction(PCR)，then cloned into pET28b and expressed in E．coli．Th e expressed fusion protein tagged with six consecutive histidines was 76kDa after SDS—PAGE．Th e purified fusion protein was used as antigen to immunize rabbit for further gene function study．