Molecular characteristics and physiological functions of major royal jelly protein 1 oligomer

Royal jelly contains numerous components, including proteins. Major royal jelly protein (MRJP) 1 is the most abundant protein among the soluble royal jelly proteins. In its physiological state, MRJP 1 exists as a monomer and/or oligomer. This study focuses the molecular characteristics and functions of MRJP 1 oligomer. MRJP 1 oligomer purified using HPLC techniques was subjected to the following analyses. The molecular weight of MRJP 1 oligomer was found to be 290 kDa using blue native‐PAGE. MRJP 1 oligomer was separated into 55 and 5 kDa spots on 2‐D blue native/SDS‐PAGE. The 55 kDa protein was identified as MRJP 1 monomer by proteome analysis, whereas the 5 kDa protein was identified as Apisimin by N‐terminal amino acid sequencing, and this protein may function as a subunit‐joining protein within MRJP 1 oligomer. We also found that the oligomeric form included noncovalent bonds and was stable under heat treatment at 56°C. Furthermore, MRJP 1 oligomer dose dependently enhanced and sustained cell proliferation in the human lymphoid cell line Jurkat. In conclusion, MRJP 1 oligomer is a heat‐resistant protein comprising MRJP 1 monomer and Apisimin, and has cell proliferation activity. These findings will contribute to further studies analyzing the effects of MRJP 1 in humans.