Ethanol‐soluble proteins from the royal jelly of Xinjiang black bees

Royal jelly is a nutritious food that has beneficial effects to human health. However, the functional substances remain unclear. Herein, we fractioned the royal jelly proteins of Xinjing black bees according to the Osboren method. Two main proteins from the ethanol‐soluble fraction were purified and identified. RJG‐1 was determined as glucosylceramidase, and RJG‐2 was major royal jelly protein 1 (MRJP1). RJG‐1 showed potent cytotoxicity toward various mammalian cells, and caused quick disruption of cell membranes. With glucosylceramidase activity, RJG‐1 may degrade the glucosylceramide of the cell membranes and disrupt the membrane structure, thereby resulting in cell necrosis. This study extends our knowledge about the composition and function of royal jelly, and is significant for the application of royal jelly.     

Pollen analysis as a means to determine the geographical origin of royal jelly

In this study we investigated the use of pollen analysis as a method to determine the geographical origin of royal jelly. We recorded the pollen flora sampled by bees using pollen traps for two consecutive years and we also collected and examined royal jelly samples from the same apiary. For royal jelly production, bees mainly used the freshly collected pollen. All major pollen types that were recorded in the area using pollen traps were also detected in the royal jelly samples. Thus, pollen analysis can be used as a method to determine the geographical origin of royal jelly.     

Partial venom gland transcriptome of a Drosophila parasitoid wasp, Leptopilina heterotoma, reveals novel and shared bioactive profiles with stinging Hymenoptera

Analysis of natural host-parasite relationships reveals the evolutionary forces that shape the delicate and unique specificity characteristic of such interactions. The accessory long gland-reservoir complex of the wasp Leptopilina heterotoma (Figitidae) produces venom with virus-like particles. Upon delivery, venom components delay host larval development and completely block host immune responses. The host range of this Drosophila endoparasitoid notably includes the highly-studied model organism, Drosophila melanogaster. Categorization of 827 unigenes, using similarity as an indicator of putative homology, reveals that approximately 25% are novel or classified as hypothetical proteins. Most of the remaining unigenes are related to processes involved in signaling, cell cycle, and cell physiology including detoxification, protein biogenesis, and hormone production. Analysis of L. heterotoma's predicted venom gland proteins demonstrates conservation among endo- and ectoparasitoids within the Apocrita (e.g., this wasp and the jewel wasp Nasonia vitripennis) and stinging aculeates (e.g., the honey bee and ants). Enzyme and KEGG pathway profiling predicts that kinases, esterases, and hydrolases may contribute to venom activity in this unique wasp. To our knowledge, this investigation is among the first functional genomic studies for a natural parasitic wasp of Drosophila. Our findings will help explain how L. heterotoma shuts down its hosts' immunity and shed light on the molecular basis of a natural arms race between these insects.     

Formation of 5-Hydroxy-4-Ketohexanoic Acid by Yeast

When grown on medium containing ethanol as the sole carbon source, three of five strains of yeast tested produced a keto acid which was demonstrated by paper chromatography. This compound was isolated and its structure was examined by elementary analysis, infrared spectrum, nuclear magnetic resonance and periodate oxidation. The compound was proved to be identical with 5-hydroxy-4-ketohexanoic acid. Formation of this compound by cell suspensions of Hansenula miso IFO 0146 was achieved by addition of acetaldehyde, although the presence of α-ketoglutaric acid enhanced the formation of the keto acid from acetaldehyde during a short incubation period. Added 5-hydroxy-4-ketohexanoic acid was exhausted by the cell suspension.     

Immunomodulatory effect of human umbilical cord Wharton's jelly-derived mesenchymal stem cells on lymphocytes

Studies have shown that mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have low immunogenicity and immune regulation. Human umbilical cord Wharton’s jelly provides a new source for MSCs that are highly proliferative and have multi-differentiation potential. To investigate immunomodulatory effects of human Wharton’s jelly cells (WJCs) on lymphocytes, we successfully isolated MSCs from human umbilical cord Wharton’s jelly. WJCs expressed MSC markers but low levels of human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-ABC and no HLA-DR. These results indicate that WJCs have low immunogenicity. Both WJCs and their culture supernatant could inhibit the proliferation of phytohemagglutinin-stimulated human peripheral blood lymphocytes and mouse splenocytes. Additionally, WJCs suppressed secretion of transforming growth factor-β1 and interferon-γ by human peripheral blood lymphocytes. We conclude that the immunomodulatory effect of WJCs may be related to direct cell contact and inhibition of cytokine secretion by human peripheral blood lymphocytes.     

中华蜜蜂重要生物学特性相关功能基因研究进展

中华蜜蜂Apis cerana cerana Fabricisus是一种重要的经济动物,具有嗅觉敏锐,抗寒耐热,抗螨及采集能力强等特点.目前人们采用分子生物学的方法,对中华蜜蜂的基因组成、基因表达调控及基因功能分析等方面开展研究,揭示其特征行为的分子机理已成为该领域的研究热点之一.近年来,中华蜜蜂重要生物学特征功能相关基因(即蜂王浆蛋白相关基因、化学通讯相关蛋白基因和抗逆相关基因)在基因克隆、表达特性及功能研究等方面取得了重大进展.本文重点对此进行综述.     

蜜蜂蜂王浆主蛋白(MRJPs)的研究进展

蜜蜂的蜂王浆主蛋白具有为蜂王和幼虫提供营养、影响蜂群社会行为及调节个体生理机能等作用,作为蜂王浆的主要成分对其他机体也可产生多方面的生物学功能。因此,近年来蜂王浆主蛋白的相关研究备受关注。本文针对蜂王浆主蛋白的发现、种类、功能、系统进化及其基因表达情况进行了系统综述。     

Trace and mineral elements in royal jelly and homeostatic effects

Royal jelly from Apis mellifera is a highly active natural biological substance and is probably one of the most interesting raw substances in natural product chemistry. Trace elements play a key role in the biomedical activities associated with royal jelly, as these elements have a multitude of known and unknown biological functions. For this reason concentrations of 28 trace (Al, Ba, Sr, Bi, Cd, Hg, Pb, Sn, Te, Tl, W, Sb, Cr, Ni, Ti, V, Co, Mo) and mineral (P, S, Ca, Mg, K, Na, Zn, Fe, Cu, Mn) elements were systematically investigated in botanically and geologically defined royal jelly samples. In addition, concentrations of 14 trace elements were measured in the associated honey samples--honey being the precursor of royal jelly. Concentrations of K, Na, Mg, Ca, P, S, Cu, Fe, Zn, Al, Ba and Sr in royal jelly were determined by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES), while concentrations of Bi, Cd, Hg, Pb, Sn, Te, Tl, W, Sb, Cr, Mn, Ni, Ti, V, Co and Mo in royal jelly were determined by double focusing magnetic sector field inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (SF-ICP-MS). In the honey samples, trace and mineral element concentrations strongly depended on botanical and geological origin, and substantial variation was found. In contrast, the concentrations of trace and mineral elements were highly constant in the associated royal jelly samples. The most important results were the homeostatic adjustments of trace and mineral element concentrations in royal jelly. This effect was evidently produced in the endocrine glands of nurse bees, which are adapted for needs of bee larvae. In conclusion, this research yielded a surprising and completely new finding--that royal jelly, as a form of lactation on the insect level, shows the same homeostatic adjustment as mammalian and human breast milk.     

意大利蜜蜂产浆性状10个微卫星位点的遗传分析

我国培育成功的世界上蜂王浆产量最高的蜂种（Ea）是从20世纪30年代引进我国的意大利蜜蜂（Eb）中选育的。采用10个微卫星位点对蜂王浆高产蜜蜂、原种意大利蜜蜂（Ee）和本地意大利蜜蜂进行研究,以探明由于人工选择和地理隔离造成的其分子进化上的一些特征。结果,10个微卫星位点在3个蜂种中共扩增到96个等位基因,其中有48个等位基因是不同的,表明10个微卫星位点在3个蜂种中的高度多态性,而且由于人工选择和地理隔离已造成3蜂种在遗传基础上的一些分化。3蜂种的多态信息含量（PIC）分别为0．57、0．50、0．57,杂合度分别为0．60、0．57、0．61,二者均无显著差异。遗传距离的分析结果显示,Ee和Eb（0．14）、Eb和Ea（0．16）之间的遗传距离较近,而Ea和Ee（0.25）之间的遗传距离较远。等位基因频率的分析结果表明,6个位点的7个等位基因的频率（A29的159bp、A24的100bp和104bp、A7的110bp、A43的126bp、A14的221bp和A113的221bp）以Ee、Eb、Ea的顺序递增,Ea的这7个等位基因频率分别显著高于Ee和Eb。同时4个位点的4个等位基因的频率（A24的106bp、A43的140bp;A113的215bp和A14的219bp）以Ea、Eb、Ee的Ⅲ页序下降,Ea在这4个位点的频率分别显著低于Eb和Ee。这些位点的等位基因可能与蜂王浆产量有关。