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.     

Molecular characterization and tissue localization of sensory neuron membrane protein from Chinese honey bee, Apis cerana cerana (Hymenoptera: Apidae)

Sensory neuron membrane protein (SNMP) is an olfactory receptor with photoaffinity analogs, capable of binding the pheromone membrane protein receptor deduced from receptor membrane protein with the pheromone–pheromone binding protein complex. However, this hypothesis has not yet been experimentally verified. In this experiment, the cDNA sequence encoding an open reading frame (ORF) of the SNMP gene AccSNMP1 (GenBank, KC012595) was cloned from Chinese honey bee, Apis cerana cerana Fabricius. Results from sequence analysis showed that this gene is 1,563 bp long, and that the ORF encodes 520 amino acids with a predicted molecular weight of 58.02 kDa, and has a theoretical isoelectric point of 5.83. Furthermore, there are two putative transmembrane domains. Multiple sequence alignment indicated that the AccSNMP1 gene from A. cerana cerana had different degrees of identity with the corresponding genes in nineteen other insects at the amino acid level. Phylogenetic analysis of the aligned sequences showed that A. cerana cerana is closely related to Apis mellifera Linnaeus and Bombus impatiens Cresson. Its distribution in tissues, as quantified using real-time RT-PCR, indicated that AccSNMP1 is highly expressed in the antennae and legs of A. cerana cerana, and there was a significant difference (p < 0.05) in gene expression between those tissues and tissues in the thorax, abdomen, snout, and head (not including antennae). Western blotting also confirmed the existence in the antennae of AccSNMP1 with an M _W of 58.0 kDa, which is the same as the expected value of 58.02 kDa. An immunohistochemistry study showed that AccSNMP1 is expressed in the trichoid sensilla of A. cerana cerana antenna. Therefore, the results of this study provide the basis for further studies of the function of SNMP from A. cerana cerana.     

A novel 1-Cys thioredoxin peroxidase gene in Apis cerana cerana: characterization of AccTpx4 and its role in oxidative stresses

Thioredoxin peroxidase (Tpx), also named peroxiredoxin (Prx), is an important peroxidase that can protect organisms against stressful environments. AccTpx4, a 1-Cys thioredoxin peroxidase gene from the Chinese honey bee Apis cerana cerana, was cloned and characterized. The AccTpx4 gene encodes a protein that is predicted to contain the conserved PVCTTE motif from 1-Cys peroxiredoxin. Quantitative real-time PCR (Q-PCR) and Western blotting revealed that AccTpx4 was induced by various oxidative stresses, such as cold, heat, insecticides, H₂O₂, and HgCl₂. The in vivo peroxidase activity assay showed that recombinant AccTpx4 protein could efficiently degrade H₂O₂ in the presence of DL-dithiothreitol (DTT). In addition, disc fusion assays revealed that AccTpx4 could function to protect cells against oxidative stresses. These results indicate that AccTpx4 plays an important role in oxidative stress responses and may contribute to the conservation of honeybees.     

Role of c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase-mediated mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway in response to pesticides in Apis cerana cerana

The mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascade pathway plays an important role in regulating stress responses. The function of the c-Jun NH₂-terminal kinase (JNK), a component of the MAPK cascade pathway, in Apis cerana cerana (Acc) remains unclear. Here, JNK was isolated and identified from Acc. Bioinformatics analyses revealed there is a typical serine/threonine protein kinase catalytic domain in the AccJNK protein. An expression profile analysis showed that AccJNK was significantly induced by pesticide treatments. To further explore the functional mechanisms of AccJNK, a yeast 2-hybrid screen was performed, activator protein-1 (AP-1) was screened as the interaction partner of AccJNK, and the interaction relationship was further verified by pull-down assay. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction showed the expression pattern of AccAP-1 was similar to that of AccJNK. After a knockdown of AccJNK or AccAP-1 by RNA interference, the survival rate of Acc after pesticide treatments increased. Additionally, the expression levels of antioxidant-related genes and the activities of antioxidant enzymes increased, suggesting that the knockdown of AccJNK or AccAP-1 increased the antioxidant capacity of bees. Our study revealed that the JNK-mediated MAPK pathway responds to pesticide stress by altering the antioxidant capacity of Acc.     

Cloning and expression studies on glutathione S-transferase like-gene in honey bee for its role in oxidative stress

Glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) constitute an important multifunctional enzyme family that plays vital roles in cellular detoxification and protecting organisms against oxidative stress caused by reactive oxygen species (ROS). In this study, we isolated a GST-like gene from Apis cerana cerana (AccGSTL) and investigated its antioxidant functions under stress conditions. We found that AccGSTL belongs to the Sigma class of GSTs. Real-time quantitative PCR and western blotting analyses showed that the mRNA and protein levels of AccGSTL were altered in response to oxidative stress caused by various external stimuli. In addition, a heterologous expression analysis showed that AccGSTL overexpression in Escherichia coli (E. coli) cells enhanced resistance to oxidative stress. After AccGSTL silencing with RNA interference (RNAi) technology, the expression of some antioxidant genes was inhibited, and the enzymatic activities of POD, CAT, and SOD were decreased. In conclusion, these data suggest that AccGSTL may be involved in antioxidant defense under adverse conditions in A. cerana cerana.Supplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12192-022-01255-3.     

Molecular identification of three novel glutaredoxin genes that play important roles in antioxidant defense in Helicoverpa armigera

Glutaredoxins (Grxs), also known as thioltransferases, play key roles in maintaining intracellular redox balance and protecting cells from oxidative damage in plants and mammals. We tested whether Grxs play important roles in antioxidant defense in insects using the moth, Helicoverpa armigera. We obtained the full-length cDNA sequences of three novel Grx genes, named HaGrx, HaGrx3, and HaGrx5. Sequence analysis indicated that HaGrx shared a high amino acid identity (58%–78%) and a CPYC motif of conserved redox activity with homologues from other selected insect species. In contrast, HaGrx3 and HaGrx5 both shared a CGF(S/G) motif, a conserved catalytic domain, with other orthologous genes. Quantitative real-time PCR results revealed that HaGrx, HaGrx3, and HaGrx5 exhibited temporally- and spatially-dependent patterns of expression. The mRNA expression of HaGrx, HaGrx3, and HaGrx5 was induced by various temperature stresses and H₂O₂ treatments. We further investigated the knockdown of HaGrx, HaGrx3, and HaGrx5 in H. armigera larvae and found that most of the selected antioxidant genes were up regulated. However, Tpx was down regulated, and further interpretation of the complementary functions of these antioxidant genes is still required. We also determined the effect of HaGrx, HaGrx3, and HaGrx5 knockdown on antioxidant enzymatic activity and metabolite content. The enzymatic activities of SOD, CAT, and POD, and the metabolite contents of hydrogen peroxide, ascorbate, protein carbonyl, and total GSH increased after RNAi mediated knockdown of HaGrx, HaGrx3, and HaGrx5. These results supported our hypothesis that HaGrx, HaGrx3, and HaGrx5 play important roles in antioxidant defense of Helicoverpa armigera and provided a theoretical basis for further in-depth study of physiological function in the insect glutaredoxin family genes.     

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。     

Nectar and Pollen Sources for Honeybee （Apis cerana cerana Fabr.） in Qinglan Mangrove Area, Hainan Island, China

In the present study, nectar and pollen sources for honeybee （Apls cerana cerana Fabr.） were studied in Qlnglan mangrove area, Hainan Island, China, based on microscopic analysis of honey and pollen load （corblcular and gut contents） from honeybees collected In October and November 2004. Qualitative and quantitative melittopalynologlcal analysis of the natural honey sample showed that the honey is of unlfloral type with Mimosa pudlca L. （Mlmosaceae） as the predominant （89.14%） source of nectar and pollen for A. cerana cerana In October. Members of Araceae are an Important minor （3%-15%） pollen type, whereas those of Arecaceae are a minor （〈3%） pollen type. Pollen grains of Nypa fruticans Wurmb., Rhlzophora spp., Excoecarla agallocha L., Lumnitzera spp., Brugulera spp., Kandella candel Druce, and Ceriops tagal （Perr.） C. B. Rob. are among the notable mangrove texa growing In Qinglan mangrove area recorded as minor taxa In the honey. The absolute pollen count （I.e. the number of pollen grains/10 g honey sample） suggests that the honey belongs to Group V （〉1 000 000）. Pollen analysis from the corblcular and gut contents of A. cerana cerana revealed the highest representation （95.60%） of members of Sonneratia spp. （Sonneratlaceae）, followed by Bruguiera spp. （Rhizophoraceae）, Euphorblaceae, Poaceae, Fabaceae, Arecaceae, Araceae, Anacardlaceae, and Rublaceae. Of these plants, those belonging to Sonneratla plants are the most Important nectar and pollen sources for A. cerana cerana and are frequently foraged and pollinated by these bees in November.