Crayfish is a common model animal for different experimental purposes. However, the lack of information about the genetic properties of the animal limits its use in comparison to other model animals. In the present study, a putative crayfish sodium/calcium exchanger gene has firstly been cloned in ganglia cDNA samples by conducting a series of PCR experiments, where a set of degenerate and specific primers and RACE method were used. The complete sequence is 2955 bp, and the ORF is 2718 bp in length. Molecular properties of the calculated peptide were similar to the sodium/calcium exchangers reported in the other species. Analysis of the qPCR data indicated that the putative gene has the highest expression level in the ganglia. However, an apparently elevated level of expression is observed in highly active tissues like heart, muscle and intestine, while the least expression level was observed in the stomach samples. It was proposed that the cloned gene may code the sodium/calcium exchanger protein in the crayfish.

小龙虾是用于不同实验目的的常见模型动物。然而，与其他模型动物相比，缺乏有关该动物遗传特性的信息限制了其使用。在本研究中，通过一系列简并和特异性引物和RACE方法进行一系列PCR实验，首先在神经节cDNA样本中克隆了假定的小龙虾钠/钙交换基因。完整序列为2955 bp，ORF长度为2718 bp。计算出的肽的分子特性与其他物种中报道的钠/钙交换剂相似。 qPCR 数据分析表明，推定基因在神经节中的表达水平最高。然而，在心脏、肌肉和肠道等高度活跃的组织中观察到表达水平明显升高，而在胃样本中观察到表达水平最低。有人提出，克隆的基因可能编码小龙虾中的钠/钙交换蛋白。