TY - JOUR
T1 - Functional characterization of CYP4G11—a highly conserved enzyme in the western honey bee Apis mellifera
AU - Calla, B.
AU - MacLean, M.
AU - Liao, L. H.
AU - Dhanjal, I.
AU - Tittiger, C.
AU - Blomquist, G. J.
AU - Berenbaum, May R
N1 - Funding Information:
We would like to thank the Dr. Kosma laboratory at UNR for the use of their GC-MS. We also thank Wen-Yen Wu and Terry Harrison at UIUC for their help with handling bees, and Dr. Gene Robinson for advice and access to the UIUC apiaries. This work was supported by the USDA-NIFA/AFRI awards: #2014-67013-21748 to G.J.B. and C.T., and #2017-67013-26533 to M.R.B.; and the McIntyre-HATCH award from the State of Nevada (NV00381) to C.T. Additional Supporting Information may be found in the online version of this article at the publisher's web-site.
Funding Information:
We would like to thank the Dr. Kosma laboratory at UNR for the use of their GC-MS. We also thank Wen-Yen Wu and Terry Harrison at UIUC for their help with handling bees, and Dr. Gene Robinson for advice and access to the UIUC apiaries. This work was supported by the USDA-NIFA/AFRI awards: #2014-67013-21748 to G.J.B. and C.T., and #2017-67013-26533 to M.R.B.; and the McIntyre-HATCH award from the State of Nevada (NV00381) to C.T.
PY - 2018/10
Y1 - 2018/10
N2 - Determining the functionality of CYP4G11, the only CYP4G in the genome of the western honey bee Apis mellifera, can provide insight into its reduced CYP4 inventory. Toward this objective, CYP4G11 transcripts were quantified, and CYP4G11 was expressed as a fusion protein with housefly CPR in Sf9 cells. Transcript levels varied with age, task, and tissue type in a manner consistent with the need for cuticular hydrocarbon production to prevent desiccation or with comb wax production. Young larvae, with minimal need for desiccation protection, expressed CYP4G11 at very low levels. Higher levels were observed in nurses, and even higher levels in wax producers and foragers, the latter of which risk desiccation upon leaving the hive. Recombinant CYP4G11 readily converted octadecanal to n-heptadecane in a time-dependent manner, demonstrating its functions as an oxidative decarbonylase. CYP4G11 expression levels are high in antennae; heterologously expressed CYP4G11 converted tetradecanal to n-tridecane, demonstrating that it metabolizes shorter-chain aldehydes. Together, these findings confirm the involvement of CYP4G11 in cuticular hydrocarbon production and suggest a possible role in clearing pheromonal and phytochemical compounds from antennae. This possible dual functionality of CYP4G11, i.e., cuticular hydrocarbon and comb wax production and antennal odorant clearance, may explain how honey bees function with a reduced CYP4G inventory.
AB - Determining the functionality of CYP4G11, the only CYP4G in the genome of the western honey bee Apis mellifera, can provide insight into its reduced CYP4 inventory. Toward this objective, CYP4G11 transcripts were quantified, and CYP4G11 was expressed as a fusion protein with housefly CPR in Sf9 cells. Transcript levels varied with age, task, and tissue type in a manner consistent with the need for cuticular hydrocarbon production to prevent desiccation or with comb wax production. Young larvae, with minimal need for desiccation protection, expressed CYP4G11 at very low levels. Higher levels were observed in nurses, and even higher levels in wax producers and foragers, the latter of which risk desiccation upon leaving the hive. Recombinant CYP4G11 readily converted octadecanal to n-heptadecane in a time-dependent manner, demonstrating its functions as an oxidative decarbonylase. CYP4G11 expression levels are high in antennae; heterologously expressed CYP4G11 converted tetradecanal to n-tridecane, demonstrating that it metabolizes shorter-chain aldehydes. Together, these findings confirm the involvement of CYP4G11 in cuticular hydrocarbon production and suggest a possible role in clearing pheromonal and phytochemical compounds from antennae. This possible dual functionality of CYP4G11, i.e., cuticular hydrocarbon and comb wax production and antennal odorant clearance, may explain how honey bees function with a reduced CYP4G inventory.
KW - Apoidea
KW - aldehyde oxidative decarbonylase
KW - cytochrome P450
KW - eusocial
KW - hydrocarbon biosynthesis
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U2 - 10.1111/imb.12516
DO - 10.1111/imb.12516
M3 - Article
C2 - 29896786
SN - 0962-1075
VL - 27
SP - 661
EP - 674
JO - Insect Molecular Biology
JF - Insect Molecular Biology
IS - 5
ER -