Apidologie 35 (2004) 595-604
DOI: 10.1051/apido:2004064

Expression profile of water-soluble proteinases during ontogenesis of Megachile rotundata: an electrophoretic investigation

Antonio Felicioli^a, Elena Donadio^a, Ettore Balestreri^b, Giorgio Montagnoli^a, Romano Felicioli^{a, b} and Adriano Podestà<sup>a

a</sup>  Dipartimento di Anatomia, Biochimica e Fisiologia Veterinaria, Università di Pisa, Viale delle Piagge 2, 56124 Pisa, Italia
^b  Istituto di Biofisica del C.N.R., Area della Ricerca di Pisa, loc. S. Cataldo, Via G. Moruzzi 1, 56100 Pisa, Italia

(Received 30 September 2003; revised 13 January 2004; accepted 20 February 2004)

Abstract - Variations in proteinase activity pattern in larva, pupa and imago of the solitary bee Megachile rotundata are described. Extraction of insect homogenates under mild conditions was followed by the electrophoretic separation of the protein extract in polyacrylamide gels, precast with either gelatine or pollen protein extracts. In these conditions, twelve distinct proteinases were detectable in the pooled I-IV instar larvae, six in the pollen-eating V instar, two in the mature V instar, none in the diapausing V instar, none in the pupa, and two in the imago. Some of the detected proteinases were able to digest the protein mixture extracted from the pollen provisions. Some proteinases were insect specific since they were not detectable in pollen provisions extract. The enzymologic properties of the major proteolytic band suggest its serine-proteinase nature.

Key words: solitary bee / Megachile rotundata / development / proteinase / zymography

Corresponding author: Antonio Felicioli antonio.felicioli@vet.unipi.it

© INRA, EDP Sciences, DIB, AGIB 2004