Upregulation of Transferrin and Major Royal Jelly Proteins in the Spermathecal Fluid of Mated Honeybee (Apis mellifera) Queens.

ABSTRACT: Sperm storage in the spermathecae of honeybee (Apis mellifera) queens is vital for reproduction of honeybees. However, the molecular mechanisms whereby queens store sperm in a viable state over prolonged periods in the spermatheca are not fully understood. Here, we conducted RNA sequencing analysis of the spermathecae in both virgin and mated A. mellifera queens 24 h after mating and observed that the genes encoding transferrin (Tf) and major royal jelly proteins (MRJPs) were differentially expressed in the spermathecae of mated queens. The concentrations of Tf and antioxidant proteins such as superoxide dismutase 1, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase as well as the levels of reactive oxygen species, H₂O₂, and iron were higher in the spermathecal fluid

SUBMITTER: Park HG 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8396679 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature