MicroRNA-1985 enhances the redox capability of scallop () in response to poly(I:C) stimulation by targeting MNK1.

To clarify the microRNA (miRNA)-target gene axis is involved in response to pathogen-associated molecular pattern (PAMP)-induced oxidative stress in shellfish, the full-length cDNA of a novel 1 () homolog gene from the scallop () was cloned and characterized. The interaction between miR-1985 and was verified, and then the responses and possible molecular function of miR-1985, , and miR-1985/ axis to poly(I:C) (a classic virus-related PAMP) stimulation in were explored and preliminarily dissected. The results indicate: 1) The full-length cDNA of was 5354 bp, with a high level of sequence conservation across mollusks. 2) MiR-1985 bound to the 3'-UTR of and negatively regulated the expression of . 3) MNK1 may repress the relative expression of superoxide dismutase () by binding its promoter. 4) Both silencing and miR-1985 overexpression promoted the expression and enzymatic activity of SOD. 5) The miR-1985/ axis may be involved in the response to poly(I:C) stimulation by elevating the activity of the SOD/catalase axis. To summarize, all observations from this study indicated that may enhance its redox capability via the miR-1985//SOD/CAT cascade and thereby alleviate PAMP-induced oxidative stress.