中华蜜蜂感觉神经元膜蛋白基因克隆、组织表达分析及原核表达

为明确中华蜜蜂Apis cerana cerana嗅觉形成中重要功能因子的信号转导通路, 本研究利用RT-PCR方法, 克隆了中华蜜蜂感觉神经元膜蛋白 (sensory neuron membrane protein, SNMP) 基因编码区, GenBank登录号为KC012595, 命名为AccSNMP1。序列分析表明, 该编码区开放阅读框长1 563 bp, 编码520个氨基酸, 推测的编码蛋白的相对分子量和等电点分别为58.02 kD和5.83。同源性比较发现, 中华蜜蜂AccSNMP1与其他昆虫感觉神经元膜蛋白基因同源性差异很大, 在氨基酸水平上与西方蜜蜂Apis mellifera SNMP基因一致性达99.2%, 与熊蜂Bombus impatiens SNMP基因一致性达90.9%, 而与赤拟谷盗Tribolium castaneum SNMP基因一致性仅为22.7%。系统发育树显示中华蜜蜂与西方蜜蜂遗传距离最近。实时荧光定量PCR结果分析表明, AccSNMP1在触角中表达量最高, 在足中表达量较高, 与胸、 腹、 头（去除触角和喙）、 喙中表达量相比差异显著（P<0.05）。构建原核表达载体pEASY-E1-AccSNMP1, 经IPTG诱导, 中华蜜蜂感觉神经元膜蛋白在大肠杆菌Escherichia coli BL21 （DE3）中高效表达。结果为进一步研究AccSNMP1在中华蜜蜂体内的作用机理奠定了基础。     

中华蜜蜂气味结合蛋白AcerOBP14的表达及配体结合特性分析

【目的】气味结合蛋白(odorant binding proteins, OBPs)在昆虫寄主定位、产卵地选择等行为中发挥着重要作用,明确中华蜜蜂Apis cerana cerana AcerOBP14与配体的结合特性有助于阐明中华蜜蜂嗅觉识别的分子机制。【方法】通过qRT-PCR测定OBP14在20日龄中华蜜蜂成年工蜂、20日龄中华蜜蜂成年雄蜂、中华蜜蜂采粉蜂和意大利蜜蜂Apis mellifera ligustica采粉蜂触角中的表达量。构建原核表达载体pET28a/AcerOBP14,表达并分离纯化重组蛋白AcerOBP14。利用荧光竞争结合实验检测AcerOBP14与37 种气味配体化合物的结合特性。【结果】qRT-PCR分析发现, OBP14在中华蜜蜂采粉蜂触角中的表达量极显著高于20日龄中华蜜蜂成年工蜂和雄蜂以及意大利蜜蜂采粉蜂中的。荧光竞争结合实验表明,AcerOBP14与蜂王信息素、告警信息素、那氏信息素及多种植物挥发物都具有结合能力,其中与β 罗勒烯的结合能力最强,解离常数 Ki=0.297 μmol/L。【结论】AcerOBP14的配体结合谱较宽,暗示其可能参与了中华蜜蜂的多种生理行为反应,且在中华蜜蜂的采粉行为中发挥着重要作用。     

中华蜜蜂Orco嗅觉受体基因的克隆、表达及亚细胞定位

【目的】克隆鉴定中华蜜蜂Apis cerana cerana的Orco嗅觉受体基因, 并对其在工蜂触角上进行免疫荧光定位。【方法】利用RT-PCR技术克隆中华蜜蜂Orco基因, 并对其编码的氨基酸序列进行生物信息学分析, 使用Real-time PCR技术鉴定其在中华蜜蜂不同发育时期及不同组织的表达谱; 利用免疫荧光定位技术在中华蜜蜂工蜂触角中对Orco进行亚细胞定位。【结果】获得中华蜜蜂Orco基因的全长cDNA序列, 命名为AcerOrco (GenBank登录号： JF968610.1), 其全长为1 434 bp, 编码477个氨基酸, 预测其含7个跨膜结构以及4个位于细胞膜外的亲水区。表达谱分析显示, AcerOrco在卵、 幼虫和蛹期呈低丰度表达, 1日龄及内勤蜂时期主要在触角和足中表达, 且在1日龄的触角中表达量最高; 采集蜂时期的触角、 头(去除触角)、 胸、 腹和翅中均有较高丰度的表达。亚细胞定位结果显示, AcerOrco不仅在采集蜂触角鞭节上大量表达（尤其在触角鞭节第1亚节中表达量较高）, 而且常成对出现, 并且发现AcerOrco可能主要在触角毛形感器的外部神经元(outer dendrite, OD)以及板形感器的树突神经元中表达。【结论】成功克隆了AcerOrco基因全长, 获得了其表达谱, 且将其定位于工蜂采集蜂的触角感器神经元上, 最终推测AcerOrco与中蜂嗅觉发育和触角感器功能密切相关。     

Structural and functional differences in the antennal olfactory system of worker honey bees of Apis mellifera and Apis cerana

Olfactory cues are important sensory modalities on individual discrimination, perception, and efficient orientation to food sources in most insects. In honey bees, which are well known as eusocial insects, olfactory cues are mainly used to maintain a colony. Although much research has been reported on olfactory systems in honey bee olfaction, little is known about the differences between two major honey bee species, the European honey bee Apis mellifera and the Asian honey bee Apis cerana. In order to understand the differences of olfactory characteristics in the two species, we compared the distribution of sensory hairs on the antennae and antennal olfactory responses, using electron microscopy, electrophysiological recording and molecular expression level of odorant receptors. Our present study demonstrated that the antennae of A. cerana have more olfactory sensilla than A. mellifera, responding more strongly to various floral volatile compounds. At the molecular level, olfactory co-receptor (Orco), which makes heterodimers with other conventional olfactory receptors, is more abundantly expressed in the antenna of A. cerana than of A. mellifera. These findings extend our understanding of the olfactory systems and behavioral responses to various ecological and biological signals in two closely related honey bee species.     

中华蜜蜂的欧洲幼虫腐臭病病原研究

采用中华蜜蜂Apis cerana cerana F.临床自然发病的欧洲幼虫腐臭病(European Foulbrood, EFB)幼虫,对其病原体进行了分离鉴定。结果表明：中华蜜蜂EFB的病原系蜂房蜜蜂球菌Melissococcus pluton。该菌为革兰氏阳性的兼性厌氧菌,形态学及染色特性、致病性试验、血清学试验和细菌DNA G+C mol%试验均证明中华蜜蜂和西方蜜蜂的EFB病原属于同属的蜂房蜜蜂球菌。生理生化特性结果与国外的早期研究结果相近似。该试验为不同地理位置、不同种寄主间蜂房蜜蜂球菌的遗传差异的研究,以及中华蜜蜂EFB病的防治学研究打下基础。     

Molecular characterization,immunohistochemical localization and expression of a ribosomal protein L17 gene from Apis cerana cerana

Ribosomal protein L17 (RPL17) is a core protein of the large (60S) ribosomal subunit and plays an important role in protein synthesis. In this report, a RPL17 gene was isolated from Apis cerana cerana, designated as AccRPL17. Alignment analysis showed that AccRPL17 exhibits high homology to other known RPL17s. Moreover, genomic sequence analysis revealed that five exons are splitted by four introns, and the position of the first intron is comparatively conservative, being localized in the 5′ untranslated region. Partial putative cis‐acting elements related to development were also examined. Quantitative real‐time PCR showed that the highest mRNA level was detected in larvae on the fifth day. Simultaneously, immunohistochemical localization showed that AccRPL17 is primarily concentrated in muscular tissues, stigma, body wall, and the surrounding of the eye in the fifth‐instar larvae. Further studies suggested that AccRPL17 might be involved in responses to abiotic stresses. This is a report attempting to analyze the expression and distribution of RPL17 in A. cerana cerana. These results indicated that AccRPL17 might play an important role in insect development, and the importance of AccRPL17 in participating in abiotic stresses is discussed. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Isolation of AccGalectin1 from Apis cerana cerana and its functions in development and adverse stress response

The galectins are a family of lectins that play important roles in development, immunity, and the regulation of cellular responses. Much research has focused on the functions of galectins in mammals, though less in insects. Here, we identified the AccGalectin1 gene in Apis cerana cerana for the first time and explored its functions. The open reading frame of AccGalectin1 is 1449 base pairs and encodes a 482-amino-acid protein. AccGalectin1 expression was high during the transition between developmental stages and was high in the head, thorax, and epidermis compared with its levels in other tissues. In addition, the expression of AccGalectin1 was induced by several adverse stresses, including both abiotic and biotic stresses. A disk diffusion assay of recombinant AccGalectin1 protein revealed possible roles in protecting cells from oxidative stress. Furthermore, the expression levels of multiple oxidative genes (AccCAT, AccTpx1, AccTrx2, etc) were increased after AccGalectin1 was knocked down in Apis cerana cerana using RNA interference. We also observed that the malondialdehyde content in the AccGalectin1-silenced bees was higher than that in the control bees, while the antioxidant enzymatic activities of superoxide dismutase and peroxidase were lower. Considering these results, we suggest that AccGalectin1 may be indispensable for protecting honeybees from biotic and abiotic damage by participating in the oxidative resistance response and the immune response. These results may provide insight into the precise functions of galectins in mammals and other insects.     

中华蜜蜂化学感受蛋白基因Acer-CSP1克隆与表达特征分析

化学感受蛋白(chemosensory proteins, CSPs)是昆虫化学感受系统中重要的组成部分之一。本研究克隆了中华蜜蜂Apis cerana cerana化学感受蛋白基因Acer-CSP1, 其核苷酸全长351 bp （GenBank登录号为FJ157352）, 编码116个氨基酸残基, 预测蛋白分子量为13.85 kD, 等电点为4.89, 且含有4个保守的半胱氨酸残基, 均符合昆虫CSPs的一般特征, 且与意蜂CSP1基因具有99.1%的相似性, 与其他昆虫也有45.3%~68.0%的相似性。利用2^-ΔΔCt法及绝对定量法的real-time PCR技术对Acer-CSP1在中蜂不同器官表达特征进行了研究, 得出的一致结论为Acer-CSP1显著水平地高丰度表达于中华蜜蜂触角, 其次大量表达于头部。由于触角为中华蜜蜂最主要的嗅觉器官, 而头部则具有发达的感觉神经系统和味觉系统, 这也提示Acer-CSP1极有可能参与中华蜜蜂的嗅觉以及其他化学感受功能。     

中华蜜蜂和意大利蜜蜂蜂毒前溶血肽原蛋白cDNA的克隆与序列分析

分别从中华蜜蜂Apis cerana cerana和意大利蜜蜂Apis mellifera工蜂毒腺中抽提总RNA,通过RT-PCR方法扩增,各得到了蜂毒前溶血肽原蛋白的cDNA,再将扩增产物克隆到pGEM-Teasy载体上,进行测序和序列分析。结果表明,所扩增到的这两个片段长度均为213 bp,均为编码蜂毒前溶血肽原的cDNA,并分别推导出两者所编码的氨基酸序列。经序列比较,中华蜜蜂前溶血肽原与意大利蜜蜂、印度蜜蜂Apis cerana indica前溶血肽原的同源性都为97%。所报道的中华蜜蜂蜂毒前溶血肽原的核苷酸序列的GenBank登录号为AF487907。     

中华蜜蜂气味受体基因AcOr170的克隆与序列分析

本研究采用自行设计的引物对中华蜜蜂Apis cerana cerana雄蜂触角中气味受体基因(Odorant receptors 170)Ac Or170的c DNA序列进行了克隆和序列分析,以探寻中华蜜蜂雄蜂气味受体Ac Or170基因在近缘种昆虫间的进化差异。结果表明:中华蜜蜂雄蜂气味受体基因Ac Or170的c DNA序列总长度为1356 bp,编码区序列长度为1188 bp,共编码396个氨基酸,其分子量为46.272 k Da,等电点8.96,Genbank登录号:KX264359。结构域的分析结果显示,该蛋白具有7tm-6一个保守结构域。经序列比对后发现,Or170的序列在中华蜜蜂、西方蜜蜂和大蜜蜂间的亲缘性很近。     

澜沧江流域北部中华蜜蜂有毒蜂蜜孢粉学和营养生态位分析

为分析澜沧江流域北部人食用蜂蜜中毒的原因,于2013年6—9月份,对该区域蜜蜂和蜜源植物的分布情况进行了调查,观察蜜蜂采集有毒蜜源植物的行为,并进一步调查了蜜蜂巢内蜂蜜、蜂花粉的储存情况,采集了中华蜜蜂蜂蜜样品,进行蜂蜜孢粉学与营养生态位分析。该区域有大量采用传统方式进行人工饲养的中华蜜蜂(Apis cerana cerana),及少量野生中华蜜蜂、黑色小蜜蜂(Apis audreniformis)、黑色大蜜蜂(Apis laboriosa smith)群体分布;人工饲养的中华蜜蜂蜂巢内部结构与野生中华蜜蜂蜂巢相似,为自然蜂巢,内有充足的蜜粉储存,部分蜂群蜂巢内虫害严重。该区域内主要蜜源植物为荞麦(Fagopyrum esculentum Moench),其他零星辅助蜜源较多,部分地点南烛(Vaccinium bracteatum Thunb)、昆明山海棠(Tripterygium hypoglaucum(Levl.)Hutch)连片集中分布。对中华蜜蜂蜂蜜进行孢粉学和营养生态位分析,结果表明:中华蜜蜂蜂蜜标本中含有有毒蜜源植物南烛、昆明山海棠花粉,部分样品中南烛、昆明山海棠的花粉含所占比例较高;中华蜜蜂的营养生态位宽度为0.22,比其他地区中华蜜蜂生态位指数小,推测澜沧江水电枢纽的修建等人为原因已对蜜蜂种类、蜜源植物的物种组成、群落结构造成了较大影响。