Molecular characterization and immunohistochemical localization of a mitogen-activated protein kinase, Accp38b, from Apis cerana cerana

• Main Authors: Liang Zhang, Fei Meng, Yuzhen Li, Mingjiang Kang, Xingqi Guo, Baohua Xu
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Korean Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology 2012-05-01
• Series: BMB Reports
• Subjects: Apis cerana cerana; Expression analysis; Immunohistochemistry; Stress response; p38 MAPK
• Online Access: http://bmbreports.org/jbmb/pdf.php?data=MTMxMTA4MTVAcGRmX3JhaW50cmFjZV9sZWV5c0AlNUI0NS01JTVEMTIwNTI0MjAyMV8lMjgyOTMtMjk4JTI5Qk1CXzExLTI1My5wZGY=

The p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) is involvedin various processes, including stress responses, development,and differentiation. However, little information on p38 MAPKin insects is available. In this study, a p38 MAPK gene,Accp38b, was isolated from Apis cerana cerana and characterized.The quantitative real-time PCR (Q-PCR) analysis revealedthat Accp38b was induced by multiple stressors.Notably, the expression of Accp38b was relatively higher inthe pupae phase than in other developmental phases. Duringthe pupae phase, Accp38b expression was higher in the thoraxthan in the head and abdomen and higher in the fat body thanin the muscle and midgut. Immunohistochemisty showed significantpositive staining of Accp38b in sections from thebrain, eyes, fat body, and midgut of A. cerana cerana. Theseresults suggest that Accp38b may play a crucial role in stressresponses and have multiple aspects function during development.[BMB reports 2012; 45(5): 293-298]