Identification of major royal jelly proteins in the brain of the honeybee Apis mellifera.
The consumption of royal jelly (RJ) determines the differences between castes and behavioral development in the honeybee Apis mellifera. However, it is not known whether the proteins of RJ are related to these differences, or which proteins are responsible for the changes. To understand the functions of RJ proteins that are present in other tissues of the bee, in addition to hypopharyngeal gland, we used a polyclonal antibody anti-MRJP1 to investigate the presence of this protein in nervous system of honeybee. This study showed the presence of three polypeptides (p57, p70 and p128) in specific tissues of bee brain. Mushroom body, optic lobe and antennal lobe neuropils all contained proteins recognized by anti-MRJP1. Proteomic analysis showed that the three polypeptides are correlated with proteins of the MRJP family. p57 is correlated with MRJP1, p70 with MRJP3, while p128 may be an oligomeric form or a new polypeptide. Immunostaining of the brain and hypopharyngeal gland revealed differential expression of MRJPs in various brain regions and in different honeybee castes and subcastes. The identification and localization of these MRJPs contribute to the elucidation of the biological roles of this protein family.
Peixoto
Leonardo Gomes
LG
Instituto de Genética e Bioquímica, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Uberlândia/MG, Brazil.
Calábria
Luciana Karen
LK
Garcia
Liudy
L
Capparelli
Fausto Emílio
FE
Goulart
Luiz Ricardo
LR
de Sousa
Marcelo Valle
MV
Espindola
Foued Salmen
FS
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001516:Bees / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D001923:Brain Chemistry; D015870:Gene Expression; D019476:Insect Proteins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D008970:Molecular Weight; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D010455:Peptides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D021381:Protein Transport; D040901:Proteomics
D019476:Insect Proteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D010455:Peptides