Abstract
BackgroundIn addition to their general role in the hydrolysis of storage lipids, bumblebee lipases can participate in the biosynthesis of fatty acids that serve as precursors of pheromones used for sexual communication.ResultsWe studied the temporal dynamics of lipolytic activity in crude extracts from the cephalic part of Bombus terrestris labial glands. Extracts from 3-day-old males displayed the highest lipolytic activity. The highest lipase gene expression level was observed in freshly emerged bumblebees, and both gene expression and lipase activity were lower in bumblebees older than 3 days. Lipase was purified from labial glands, further characterized and named as BT-1. The B. terrestris orthologue shares 88% sequence identity with B. impatiens lipase HA. The molecular weight of B. terrestris lipase BT-1 was approximately 30 kDa, the pH optimum was 8.3, and the temperature optimum was 50°C. Lipase BT-1 showed a notable preference for C8-C10 p-nitrophenyl esters, with the highest activity toward p-nitrophenyl caprylate (C8). The Michaelis constant (Km) and maximum reaction rate (Vmax) for p-nitrophenyl laurate hydrolysis were Km = 0.0011 mM and Vmax = 0.15 U/mg.ConclusionThis is the first report describing neutral lipase from the labial gland of B. terrestris. Our findings help increase understanding of its possible function in the labial gland.
Highlights
Lipases control the key steps in lipid uptake, transport, and utilization in many animal species [1]
Screening lipase activity in the labial glands of B. terrestris males of different ages In B. terrestris males, the cephalic part of the labial pheromone glands (LGs) produces a large amount of secretion, the composition of which changes with age
The temporal dynamics of lipase hydrolytic activity in B. terrestris LG tissue (Figure 1) were detected in all stages tested; activity was normalized according to protein content [p-nitrophenol per min divided by protein amount]
Summary
Lipases control the key steps in lipid uptake, transport, and utilization in many animal species [1]. Recent studies have focused on identification, characterization, and endocrine control of lipases in insect fat bodies [6,7,8] and identification of phospholipase from venom glands of Apis mellifera and Nasonia vitripennis [9,10,11]. Lipases from the cephalic part of the labial pheromone glands (LGs) might be involved in the biosynthesis of male marking pheromones. In addition to their general role in the hydrolysis of storage lipids, bumblebee lipases can participate in the biosynthesis of fatty acids that serve as precursors of pheromones used for sexual communication
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