Differential Expression of Odorant-Binding Proteins in the Mandibular Glands of the Honey Bee According to Caste and Age

Odorant-binding proteins (OBPs) and chemosensory proteins (CSPs) mediate both perception and release of chemical stimuli in insects. The genome of the honey bee contains 21 genes encoding OBPs and 6 encoding CSPs. Using a proteomic approach, we have investigated the expression of OBPs and CSPs in th...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of proteome research 2011-08, Vol.10 (8), p.3439-3449
Main Authors: Iovinella, Immacolata, Dani, Francesca Romana, Niccolini, Alberto, Sagona, Simona, Michelucci, Elena, Gazzano, Angelo, Turillazzi, Stefano, Felicioli, Antonio, Pelosi, Paolo
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Age Factors
Animals
Base Sequence
Bees - metabolism
Blotting, Western
Cloning, Molecular
DNA Primers
Electrophoresis, Gel, Two-Dimensional
Female
Gene Expression Regulation
Immune Sera
Insect Proteins - genetics
Insect Proteins - immunology
Insect Proteins - metabolism
Male
Mandible - metabolism
Polymerase Chain Reaction
Proteomics
Receptors, Odorant - genetics
Receptors, Odorant - immunology
Receptors, Odorant - metabolism
Spectrometry, Fluorescence
Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Odorant-binding proteins (OBPs) and chemosensory proteins (CSPs) mediate both perception and release of chemical stimuli in insects. The genome of the honey bee contains 21 genes encoding OBPs and 6 encoding CSPs. Using a proteomic approach, we have investigated the expression of OBPs and CSPs in the mandibular glands of adult honey bees in relation to caste and age. OBP13 is mostly expressed in young individuals and in virgin queens, while OBP21 is abundant in older bees and is prevalent in mated queens. OBP14, which had been found in larvae, is produced in hive workers’ glands. Quite unexpectedly, the mandibular glands of drones also contain OBPs, mainly OBP18 and OBP21. We have expressed three of the most represented OBPs and studied their binding properties. OBP13 binds with good specificity oleic acid and some structurally related compounds, OBP14 is better tuned to monoterpenoid structures, while OBP21 binds the main components of queen mandibular pheromone as well as farnesol, a compound used as a trail pheromone in the honey bee and other hymenopterans. The high expression of different OBPs in the mandibular glands suggests that such proteins could be involved in solubilization and release of semiochemicals.
ISSN:1535-3893
1535-3907
DOI:10.1021/pr2000754