Kamikouchi Azusa, Morioka Mizue, Kubo Takeo
Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo, Japan.
Zoolog Sci. 2004 Jan;21(1):53-62. doi: 10.2108/0289-0003(2004)21[53:IOHAGE]2.0.CO;2.
We identified three candidate proteins/genes involved in caste and/or sex-specific olfactory processing in the honeybee Apis mellifera L., that are differentially expressed between the antennae of the worker, queen, and drone honeybees using SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis or the differential display method. A protein was identified, termed D-AP1, that was expressed preferentially in drone antennae when compared to those of workers. cDNA cloning revealed that D-AP1 is homologous to carboxylesterases. Enzymatic carboxylesterase activity in the drone antennae was higher than in the workers, suggesting its dominant function in the drone antennae. In contrast, two proteins encoded by genes termed W-AP1 and Amwat were expressed preferentially in worker antennae when compared to those of queens. W-AP1 is homologous to insect chemosensory protein, and Amwat encodes a novel secretory protein. W-AP1 is expressed selectively in worker antennae, while Amwat is expressed both in the antennae and legs of the workers. These findings suggest that these proteins are involved in the antennal function characteristic to drone or worker honeybees.
我们鉴定出了三种参与蜜蜂（意大利蜜蜂）品级和/或性别特异性嗅觉处理的候选蛋白质/基因，它们在工蜂、蜂王和雄蜂的触角之间存在差异表达，这是通过十二烷基硫酸钠-聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳或差异显示法鉴定出来的。我们鉴定出一种名为D-AP1的蛋白质，与工蜂相比，它在雄蜂触角中优先表达。cDNA克隆显示，D-AP1与羧酸酯酶同源。雄蜂触角中的羧酸酯酶活性高于工蜂，这表明其在雄蜂触角中具有主要功能。相反，与蜂王相比，由名为W-AP1和Amwat的基因编码的两种蛋白质在工蜂触角中优先表达。W-AP1与昆虫化学感受蛋白同源，Amwat编码一种新型分泌蛋白。W-AP1在工蜂触角中选择性表达，而Amwat在工蜂的触角和腿部均有表达。这些发现表明，这些蛋白质参与了雄蜂或工蜂特有的触角功能。
