Sunday, July 20, 2008

How Do Honeybees Protect Secretory Cells From Venom?

Proteomic Analysis of the Honey Bee Worker Venom Gland Focusing on the Mechanisms of Protection Against Tissue Damage
Toxicon, Article in Press

Abstract: Honey bee workers use venom for the defence of the colony and themselves when they are exposed to dangers and predators. It is produced by a long thin, convoluted, and bifurcated gland, and consists of several toxic proteins and peptides.

The present study was undertaken in order to identify the mechanisms that protect the venom gland secretory cells against these harmful components.

Samples of whole venom glands, including the interconnected reservoirs, were separated by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and the most abundant protein spots were subjected to mass spectrometric identification using MALDI TOF/TOF-MS and LC MS/MS…

Two endocuticular structural proteins were abundantly present in the 2D-gel and most probably represent a structural component of the epicuticular lining that protects the secretory cells from the toxins they produce.

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