Two complementary deoxyribonucleic acid (cDNA) clones encoding heat shock cognate 70 (HSC70) and inducible heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) were isolated from the liver of Wuchang bream (Megalobrama amblycephala Y.) using RT-PCR and rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE). They were named Ma-HSC70 and Ma-HSP70, respectively. The cDNAs were 2336 and 2224 bp in length [not including poly (A)] and contained 1950 and 1932 bp open reading frames (ORFs), respectively. The ORFs encoded proteins of 649 and 643 amino acids with predicted molecular weights of 71.24 and 70.52 kDa, and theoretical isoelectric points of 5.25 and 5.30, respectively. Genomic DNA structure analysis revealed that Ma-HSC70 gene contained seven introns with all introns conforming to the GT/AG rule whereas Ma-HSP70 gene did not contain any intron in the coding region. Amino acid sequence analysis indicated that both Ma-HSC70 and Ma-HSP70 contained three signature sequences of HSP70 family, two partial overlapping bipartite nuclear localization signal sequences (NLS) and cytoplasmic characteristic motif (EEVD). Homology analysis revealed that Ma-HSC70 shared more than 93.0% identity with the known HSC70s of other vertebrates, while Ma-HSP70 shared more than 85.0% identity with the known HSP70s of other vertebrates, and Ma-HSC70 and Ma-HSP70 shared 86.5% identity. Bioinformatics analysis indicated that the proteins encoded by Ma-HSC70 and Ma-HSP70 genes were hydrophilic, rich in B cells antigenic sites, without any signal peptide or transmembrane region. The two proteins also contained many protein kinase C phosphorylation sites, N-myristoylation sites, casein kinase II phosphorylation sites, and N-glycosylation sites, predicting that they could play essential roles in protein folding, translocation, intracellular localization, signal transduction and regulation. The predominant secondary structures of the two proteins were alpha-helix and random coil. Fluorescent real-time quantitative RT-PCR was used to study the effects of heat shock (34 degrees C), crowding stress (100g L(-1)) and challenge with bacteria Aeromonas hydrophila on the mRNA expression of the two HSP70s in Wuchang bream liver. The results indicated that, during 24 h stress, Ma-HSC70 mRNA expression decreased at first and then rose to the level before stress under heat shock and crowding stress, but Ma-HSP70 mRNA expression increased at first and then decreased under heat stress, and appeared to increase continuously under crowding stress. After bacterial challenge, the mRNA levels of both Ma-HSC70 and Ma-HSP70 increased at first and then decreased. The cloning and expression analysis of the two HSP70s provide theoretical basis to further study the mechanism of anti-adverseness and expression characteristics under stress conditions of Wuchang bream.