Hydrolases in the hypopharyngeal glands of workers of Scaptotrigona postica and Apis mellifera (Hymenoptera, Apinae)
Genet. mol. res. (Online)
; 4(4): 616-623, 2005. tab
Article
in En
| LILACS
| ID: lil-444863
Responsible library:
BR1.1
ABSTRACT
Hydrolytic enzymes from hypopharyngeal gland extracts of newly emerged, nurse and foraging workers of two eusocial bees, Scaptotrigona postica, a native Brazilian stingless bee, and the Africanized honey bee (Apis mellifera) in Brazil, were compared. The hypopharyngeal gland is rich in enzymes in both species. Fifteen different enzymes were found in the extracts, with only a few quantitative differences between the species. Some of the enzymes present in the extracts may have intracellular functions, while others seem to be digestive enzymes. Scaptotrigona postica, had lower beta-glucosidase and higher lipase esterase activities than A. mellifera. The differences may be due to different feeding habits and behavioral peculiarities of the two species.
Key words
Full text:
1
Index:
LILACS
Main subject:
Bees
/
Exocrine Glands
/
Hydrolases
/
Hypopharynx
Limits:
Animals
Language:
En
Journal:
Genet. mol. res. (Online)
Journal subject:
BIOLOGIA MOLECULAR
/
GENETICA
Year:
2005
Type:
Article