中华蜜蜂精子介导egfp基因转移

中华蜜蜂Apis cerana cerana是一种真社会性昆虫,也是我国重要的经济昆虫。本实验目的是为了检测精子是否可以作为载体将外源egfp基因介导转入中华蜜蜂。首先将雄蜂精子与线性化的质粒DNA共浴,然后通过人工授精技术将精子导入处女王,再对实验蜂群后代进行分析。结果显示EGFP蛋白在一群实验组蜂的1～2日龄小幼虫中表达较强,能检测到0.01%～0.02%荧光阳性小幼虫个体;通过PCR和RT-PCR技术分析,证实转入的外源egfp基因获得表达。实验结果表明精子载体法能够用于中华蜜蜂外源基因的转移和表达。     

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.     

中华蜜蜂ZFP37基因的生物信息学分析及高温下表达特性的研究

锌指蛋白(Zinc finger proteins, ZFPs)是一类在真核生物体内广泛分布的蛋白质。锌指蛋白作为一类转录因子,它能够调控基因的表达和细胞的分化,最近的研究显示其在动植物抗逆方面也发挥着重要作用。本研究对中华蜜蜂Apis cerana cerana ZFP37的蛋白结构进行了预测分析,并通过qRT-PCR分析了中华蜜蜂在遭受高温胁迫时ZFP37的表达情况,进一步了解锌指蛋白在中华蜜蜂应对热胁迫过程中的作用。结果显示,中华蜜蜂ZFP37可编码123个氨基酸,蛋白分子量为13.7 kDa,无跨膜结构。氨基酸同源序列比对结果表明,中华蜜蜂ZFP37序列与蜜蜂科昆虫的相似性最高,与其他膜翅目昆虫的相似性存在差异。基因的表达模式显示,ZFP37在高温下表达升高,此外,胁迫时间的增加也可导致ZFP37表达的升高。这些结果表明ZFP37对于中华蜜蜂应对热应激有重要的生物学意义。     

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。     

Molecular characterization and immunohistochemical localization of a mitogen-activated protein kinase, Accp38b, from Apis cerana cerana

The p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) is involved in various processes, including stress responses, development, and differentiation. However, little information on p38 MAPK in insects is available. In this study, a p38 MAPK gene, Accp38b, was isolated from Apis cerana cerana and characterized. The quantitative real-time PCR (Q-PCR) analysis revealed that Accp38b was induced by multiple stressors. Notably, the expression of Accp38b was relatively higher in the pupae phase than in other developmental phases. During the pupae phase, Accp38b expression was higher in the thorax than in the head and abdomen and higher in the fat body than in the muscle and midgut. Immunohistochemisty showed significant positive staining of Accp38b in sections from the brain, eyes, fat body, and midgut of A. cerana cerana. These results suggest that Accp38b may play a crucial role in stress responses and have multiple aspects function during development.     

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.     

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。     

中华蜜蜂Malvolio基因 Acmvl 的克隆及组织表达分析

【目的】本研究克隆了中华蜜蜂Apis cerana cerana Malvolio (Mvl)基因的cDNA序列,分析了其编码蛋白的结构特点,并探讨其mRNA在内勤蜂、采蜜蜂和采粉蜂各部位组织中的表达差异,以期为该基因的生物学功能研究提供参考。【方法】利用RT-PCR技术从中华蜜蜂内勤蜂头部组织中扩增和克隆获得Acmvl的全长序列,并采用多种生物信息学软件分析Acmvl蛋白的结构特征;采用Real-time PCR对中华蜜蜂Acmvl在内勤蜂、采蜜蜂和采粉蜂各组织中的表达特征进行分析。【结果】Acmvl基因cDNA全长为2 130 bp（GenBank登录号：KP662686）,编码587个氨基酸,预测该蛋白分子量为65.86 kD,等电点为6.03,无信号肽,存在11个跨膜结构域、9个糖基化位点和14个潜在磷酸化位点;系统发育树分析结果显示,中华蜜蜂Acmvl与其他膜翅目昆虫Malvolio聚为一支,与小鼠Mus musculus和人Homo sapiens Nramp家族的Nramp2聚为另一大分支,且与小鼠、水稻 Oryza sativa 、黑腹果蝇 Drosophila melanogaster 和酵母Saccharomyces cerevisiae的Nramp家族同源体在跨膜区、跨膜区带电残基及转运蛋白特征结构域上有很高的保守性,尤其是与Nramp2。Acmvl 基因在中华蜜蜂各部位组织中均有表达,但高表达于内勤蜂的胸部及采蜜蜂和采粉蜂的腹部和足部,提示该基因表达的差异影响采集行为。【结论】Acmvl 属于Nramp基因家族,可能为Nramp2的同源基因,该基因影响采集行为可能与转运Cu²⁺, Mn²⁺和Fe²⁺（尤其是Fe²⁺）有关。     

The complete mitochondrial genome of the Asiatic cavity-nesting honeybee Apis cerana (Hymenoptera: Apidae)

In the present study, we determined the complete mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) sequence of Apis cerana, the Asiatic cavity-nesting honeybee. We present here an analysis of features of its gene content and genome organization in comparison with Apis mellifera to assess the variation within the genus Apis and among main groups of Hymenoptera. The size of the entire mt genome of A. cerana is 15,895 bp, containing 2 ribosomal RNA genes, 13 protein-coding genes, 22 transfer RNA (tRNA) genes and one control region. These genes are transcribed from both strands and have a nucleotide composition high in A and T. The contents of A+T of the complete genomes are 83.96% for A. cerana. The AT bias had a significant effect on both the codon usage pattern and amino acid composition of proteins. There are a total of 3672 codons in all 13 protein-coding genes, excluding termination codons. The most frequently used amino acid is Leu (15.52%), followed by Ile (12.85%), Phe (10.10%), Ser (9.15%) and Met (8.96%). Intergenic regions in the mt genome of A. cerana are 705 bp in total. The order and orientation of the gene arrangement pattern is identical to that of A. mellifera, except for the position of the tRNA-Ser(AGN) gene. Phylogenetic analyses using concatenated amino acid sequences of 13 protein-coding genes, with three different computational algorithms (NJ, MP and ML), all revealed two distinct groups with high statistical support, indicating that A. cerana and A. mellifera are two separate species, consistent with results of previous morphological and molecular studies. The complete mtDNA sequence of A. cerana provides additional genetic markers for studying population genetics, systematics and phylogeographics of honeybees.     

基于线粒体基因的东方蜜蜂群体亚分化研究

【目的】进一步了解我国境内东方蜜蜂Apis cerana(Fabricius)群体的亚分化状况,为保护和合理利用这一宝贵的蜂种资源提供理论依据。【方法】采用公开的两对引物对中国境内19个地区的东方蜜蜂线粒体tRNAIle~ND2与16S rRNA基因的部分序列进行了扩增、测序,并与其他地区东方蜜蜂的相应序列进行了比对分析。【结果】扩增获得的tRNAIle~ND2基因的部分序列长度为471~474 bp,序列中共13个变异位点;16S rRNA基因的部分序列长度为581~585 bp,序列中共6个变异位点。ND2基因部分蛋白比对结果显示,仅山西沁源东方蜜蜂有一个位点发生变异。【结论】基于两基因部分序列所构建的系统发育树表明,海南东方蜜蜂明显区别于其他地区的东方蜜蜂;阿坝地区的东方蜜蜂可能属于高海拔地区的一种生态型,未支持其单独作为一个亚种的结论;吉林3个地区的东方蜜蜂之间亲缘关系较近,可能属于一个生态型;云南东方蜜蜂的变异比较丰富。     

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.     

中华蜜蜂蕈形体的发育

中华蜜蜂(Apis cerana cerana)的脑由前脑、中脑和后脑三部分构成,蕈形体位于前脑的背侧,是其重要的学习及其他复杂行为的整合中心。通过对中华蜜蜂工蜂的幼虫、蛹及成虫的蕈形体形态发育的观察研究,发现中华蜜蜂的蕈形体包含约1000个成神经细胞,它们最终形成了蕈形体的所有Kenyon细胞。这些成神经细胞来自于在新孵化的幼虫脑中已存在的四丛成神经细胞,每一丛细胞的数量不多于45个。蕈形体柄区的出现约在3龄幼虫,而α叶和β叶在5龄幼虫已可明显辨认。冠区出现较晚,大约在蛹期的第二天以后。由于社会性昆虫复杂的学习、记忆和认知需求,其蕈形体的体积和复杂程度都优于其他昆虫。