Phenoloxidase activity in Apis mellifera honey bee pupae, and ecdysteroid-dependent expression of the prophenoloxidase mRNA

Zufelato, Maria Salete; Lourenço, A. P.; Simões, Zilá Luz Paulino; Jorge, João Atı́lio; Bitondi, M. M. G.

doi:10.1016/j.ibmb.2004.08.005

Cited by 90 publications

(66 citation statements)

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“…A significant decrease in gene expression and PO activity, observed in stage P3 in infected bees of both sexes, suggests that the infection inhibits melanisation and sclerotisation. Those processes are intensified in stage P3 (Zufelato et al, 2004), and their inhibition could contribute to the risk of microbiological and viral infections, and the spread of pathogens. The expression of the proPO gene was significantly lower in infected newly emerged workers and drones than in healthy individuals.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Our experimental design was adopted to identify varroasisrelated changes and to evaluate transcript levels and the active form of the gene product. The enzymatic activity of the bee hemolymph was determined in earlier studies (Zufelato et al, 2004;Laughton and Siva-Jothy, 2010). The activity of PO sampled from the entire body can be an indicator of the overall status of the immune system, including the cuticle which provides the first structural barrier of resistance (Brey et al, 1993;Grzywnowicz et al, 2009).…”

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confidence: 99%

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Expression of the Prophenoloxidase Gene and Phenoloxidase Activity, During the Development of Apis Mellifera Brood Infected with Varroa Destructor

Zaobidna

Zoltowska

Łopieńska–Biernat

2015

Journal of Apicultural Science

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A b s t r a c t The pathogenesis of varroasis has not been fully explained despite intensive research. Earlier studies suggested that parasitic infections caused by Varroa destructor mites were accompanied by immunosuppression in the host organism. The objective of this study was to analyse the influence of varroasis on one of the immune pathway in Apis mellifera measured by the expression of the prophenoloxidase (proPO) gene and the enzymatic activity of this gene's product, phenoloxidase (EC 1.14.18.1). An evaluation was done of five developmental stages of honey bee workers and drones. The relative expression of proPO decreased in infected individuals. The only exceptions were worker prepupae (PP) and drone pupae with brown eyes and dark brown thorax (P5) where propo gene expression was 1.8-fold and 1.5-fold higher, respectively, than in the control. Phenoloxidase (PO) activity was 2.8-fold higher in infected pp workers and 2-fold higher in p5 drones in comparison with uninfected bees. Phenoloxidase activity was reduced in the remaining developmental stages of infected workers and drones. The relative expression of proPO was positively correlated with the relative PO activity in both workers (r = 0.988) and drones (r = 0.996). The results of the study indicate that V. destructor significantly influences the phenoloxidase-dependent immune pathway in honey bees.Keywords: Apis mellifera, phenoloxidase activity, prophenoloxidase gen expression, Varroa destructor.University of Warmia and Mazury, Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology, Department of Biochemistry, Oczapowski 1A, 10-957 Olsztyn, Poland INTRODUCTIONThe honey bee (Apis mellifera) is an economically important pollinator whose population has been dramatically reduced in the past decades (Genersch, 2010). There are several causes for the decline of the bee populations, including exposure to agricultural chemicals such as pesticides (Krupke et al., 2012). Bee breeding in large apiaries of thousands of colonies can contribute to the spread of viral, bacterial, fungal, and parasitic diseases (Wilson-Rich et al., 2008;Laughton et al., 2011). The most widespread parasitic disease in bee colonies is caused by the ectoparasite Varroa destructor, a vector of dangerous pathogens for bees (vanEngelsdorp et al., 2009;Rosenkranz et al., 2010). By feeding on the hemolymph, V. destructor weakens the bees and depletes their food reserves, which has particularly serious consequences for wintering insects. The parasite also induces immunosuppression in the host organism. Some studies have demonstrated that immunosuppression is closely linked with varroasis (Gregory et al., 2005;Yang and Cox-Foster, 2005;Aronstein et al., 2012 Expression of proPO in A. mellifera waxes, and proteolytic enzymes which provide bees with antimicrobial protection (Strachecka et al., 2010;. Phenoloxidase mediates the nodulation or encapsulation of foreign organisms. This action prevents the development and spread of pathogens in the host's body. The enzyme also participates in wound healing, which...

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Expression of the Prophenoloxidase Gene and Phenoloxidase Activity, During the Development of Apis Mellifera Brood Infected with Varroa Destructor

Zaobidna

Zoltowska

Łopieńska–Biernat

2015

Journal of Apicultural Science

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“…In addition, we could also find that the copper binding sites CuA and CuB, the putative GCGWPQH/Y thiol ester site (region III) and the conserved region IV of AccPPO in A. cerana cerana were similar to those of AmPPO in A. mellifera, which further verified that AccPPO might function in immunity in A. cerana cerana. Genomic structure analysis revealed that AccPPO was very similar to AmPPO and phylogenetic analysis of AccPPO and its homologs also showed that PPO protein in A. cerana cerana was close to that in A. mellifera, suggesting that AccPPO has a conserved period of evolution [12,32].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 88%

“…Melanin synthesis plays an important role in preventing hemolymph loss and providing cytotoxic compounds (quinone) to encapsulate and eliminate opportunist-invading microorganisms at the wound site [32,33]. The expression profile of PPO was upregulated by after the stimulation of CpG ODN and WSSV in all studied tissues [11].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Characterization of Prophenoloxidase in Resisting Adverse Stresses in Apis cerana cerana

Liu¹,

Yao²

2015

J Environ Anal Chem

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“…With this goal, we characterized the activity and biochemical properties of a phenoloxidase involved in cuticle pigmentation (Zufelato et al 2004), and the gene encoding this enzyme (Lourenço et al 2005). In addition, we described the structure and expression of the genes encoding Laccase2 (EliasNeto et al 2010) and a structural cuticle protein, AmelCPR14 (Soares et al 2007).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Expression profile of a Laccase2 encoding gene during the metamorphic molt in Apis mellifera (Hymenoptera,Apidae)

Elias-Neto¹,

Soares²,

Bitondi³

2013

Rev. Bras. entomol.

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Phenoloxidase activity in Apis mellifera honey bee pupae, and ecdysteroid-dependent expression of the prophenoloxidase mRNA

Cited by 90 publications

References 64 publications

Expression of the Prophenoloxidase Gene and Phenoloxidase Activity, During the Development of Apis Mellifera Brood Infected with Varroa Destructor

Expression of the Prophenoloxidase Gene and Phenoloxidase Activity, During the Development of Apis Mellifera Brood Infected with Varroa Destructor

Characterization of Prophenoloxidase in Resisting Adverse Stresses in Apis cerana cerana

Expression profile of a Laccase2 encoding gene during the metamorphic molt in Apis mellifera (Hymenoptera,Apidae)

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