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Vitellogenin expression in queen ovaries and in larvae of both sexes of Apis mellifera
Author(s) -
Guidugli Karina R.,
Piulachs MariaDolors,
BelléS Xavier,
LourençO Anete P.,
Simões Zilá L.P.
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
archives of insect biochemistry and physiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.576
H-Index - 66
eISSN - 1520-6327
pISSN - 0739-4462
DOI - 10.1002/arch.20061
Subject(s) - vitellogenin , biology , oocyte , ovary , juvenile hormone , larva , embryo , vitellogenesis , insect , oogenesis , medicine , endocrinology , gene expression , vitellogenins , gene , andrology , zoology , microbiology and biotechnology , botany , genetics
Abstract In the honeybee, Apis mellifera , vitellogenin (Vg) expression has been detected in the ovary of queens, but not in that of workers. In addition, larvae of both sexes produce Vg in significant amounts, which suggest that Vg serves for functions additional to oocyte growth and energy supply to the embryo. In vivo hormone treatment experiments suggest that the decrease of 20‐hydroxyecdysone concentration occurring in previtellogenic phases allows Vg production. Southern analysis indicates that the Vg gene is present as a single copy in the honeybee genome. Arch. Insect Biochem. Physiol. 59:211–218, 2005. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.