Storage-dependent degradation of 57-kDa protein in royal jelly: a possible marker for freshness.
In order to find a marker for freshness of royal jelly (RJ), the composition change of RJ during storage was investigated. The contents of 10-hydroxy-2-decenoic acid, a bioactive component of RJ, and several vitamins did not change during storage at 40 degrees C for 7 days. However, a specific protein, designated royal jelly protein-1 (RJP-1), was gradually degraded during storage under various conditions (from 4 degrees C to 50 degrees C for up to 7 days). The specific degradation of RJP-1 was proportional to storage temperature and storage period. RJP-1 was purified to homogeneity and characterized as a monomeric glycoprotein with a molecular mass of 57 kDa. These results suggest that 57-kDa protein in RJ can be used as a marker for freshness of RJ, reflecting the conditions under which RJ has been stored.
Kamakura
M
M
POLA R&D Laboratories, POLA Corporation, Yokohama, Japan. m-kamakura@pola.co.jp
Fukuda
T
T
Fukushima
M
M
Yonekura
M
M
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001516:Bees / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D004355:Drug Stability; D004356:Drug Storage; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D005229:Fatty Acids, Monounsaturated / Q000032:analysis; D006031:Glycosylation; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D019476:Insect Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D007526:Isoelectric Point; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D008970:Molecular Weight; D014815:Vitamins / Q000032:analysis
D005229:Fatty Acids, Monounsaturated; D019476:Insect Proteins; D014815:Vitamins; C055543:10-hydroxy-2-decenoic acid