Characterization of the Regulatory Signatures of Peptidoglycan Recognition Proteins of Apis cerana by In silico Analysis

Abstract

Honeybees (Apis cerana) are the most common species of South India and are found in both natural and managed ecosystems. But since last two to three decades, bee depopulation and colony losses are strikingly increasing in these areas, due to pathogen infestation especially Varroa, loss or alterations within the ecosystem or agrochemical lands. These factors are creating a stressful environment within the bees, and as such some genetic predisposition among the genes which regulate such process. Pathogens, Acaricides, Fungicides, and Pesticides do affect the bee immune system and eventually their health. In the present study, we employed in silico methods to analyse the peptidoglycan recognition protein PGRPs gene comprehensively to investigate its regulatory activity. We predicted physico-chemical parameters and deduced that it does contain a signal peptide. PTM also are observed within the sequence, which could have damaged impact on this protein functioning. STRING is used to estimate the amount of protein interactions with the query protein. In conclusion, the information gathered or obtained could be used to understand the regulatory role of PGRPs so as it can provide a valuable source for the honeybee population-based studies.