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Trade‐off between immune stimulation and expression of storage protein genes
Author(s) -
Lourenço Anete P.,
Martins Juliana R.,
Bitondi Márcia M.G.,
Simões Zilá L.P.
Publication year - 2009
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.20301
Subject(s) - biology , vitellogenin , hemolymph , prophenoloxidase , storage protein , immune system , innate immune system , western blot , gene , gene expression , microbiology and biotechnology , biochemistry , immunology
Proteins stored in insect hemolymph may serve as a source of amino acids and energy for metabolism and development. The expression of the main storage proteins was assessed in bacterial‐challenged honey bees using real‐time (RT)‐PCR and Western blot. After ensuring that the immune system had been activated by measuring the ensuing expression of the innate immune response genes, defensin‐1 (def‐1) and prophenoloxidase (proPO), we verified the expression of four genes encoding storage proteins. The levels of vitellogenin (vg) mRNA and of the respective protein were significantly lowered in bees injected with bacteria or water only (injury). An equivalent response was observed in orally‐infected bees. The levels of apolipophorin II/I (apoLp‐II/I) and hexamerin (hex 70a) mRNAs did not significantly change, but levels of Hex 70a protein subunit showed a substantial decay after bacterial challenge or injury. Infection also caused a strong reduction in the levels of apoLp‐III transcripts. Our findings are consistent with a down‐regulation of the expression and accumulation of storage proteins as a consequence of activation of the immune system, suggesting that this phenomenon represents a strategy to redirect resources to combat injury or infection. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.