Free Access
| Issue |
Apidologie
Volume 31, Number 6, November/December 2000
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|---|---|---|
| Page(s) | 679 - 687 | |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1051/apido:2000152 | |
DOI: 10.1051/apido:2000152
Apidologie 31 (2000) 679-687
Electrophoretic study of water-soluble proteins during the honeybee (Apis mellifera L.) ontogenesis.
Evgenia Ivanova - Petar Popov - Ivan Dobrovolov
Paissij-Hilendarski-Universität Plovdiv, Biologische Fakultät, Sektion Genetik. Zar
Assenstr. 24, Plovdiv, Bulgarien
(
Abstract:
Two thousand specimens of Apis mellifera L. from three domesticated populations in
Bulgaria were investigated by means of polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE), starch gel
electrophoresis (SGE) and isoelectric focusing in ultra-thin poyacrylamide gel. Specimens of different
developmental stages and sexes were compared: unsealed and sealed larvae, white-eyed and dark-eyed pupae,
and imago forms (7-day worker bees, 10-day drones, and one-day queen). All samples were total extracts of
individuals, except the egg samples which were made up of 20 eggs. PAGE was performed according to
Maurer [18]. SGE was performed according to Smithies [28] as modified by
Dobrovolov [3]. The soluble proteins were visualised with Commassie Brilliant Blue R250. A total
of 24 fractions of water-soluble proteins were found in the spectra of analyzed organs in PAGE: 10 in
eggs, 17 in unsealed larvae, 18 in sealed larvae, 14 in pupae, 18 in workers and drones and 19 in queens
(Tab. I, Fig. 1). In SGE 20 fractions were found: 8 in unsealed larvae, 11 in sealed larvae, 10 in pupae,
9 in workers, 11 in drones and 12 in queens (Tab. II, Fig. 2). With isoelectric focusing 31 fractions were
found in eggs, 50 in unsealed and sealed larvae, 48 in pupae, 52 in workers and 48 in drones (Fig. 3).
After separation in starch gel we found 2 queen specific and 2 drone specific bands. With PAGE, more bands
were obtained but only one sex specific band (M) could be found. The best separation with up to
52 fractions was obtained by isoelectric focusing. There was 1 band at the anode and 2 bands at the
cathode which occurred only in drones. With both SGE and PAGE we found protein bands which occurred during
the larval and pupal but not in the adult stages (SQ and SH - F, L, W and Y respectively) which may point
to specific larval proteins.
Keywords:
Apis mellifera / ontogenesis / water-soluble proteins
Correspondence and reprints: Evgenia Ivanova
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