Cloning and bioinformatics analysis of apamin gene isolated from Apis cerana cerana.

[Objective]The present experiment was conducted to isolate the apamin gene from Apis cerana cerana in order to characterize its properties and to provide information for understanding its physiological functions. [Method]Apamin gene was isolated from head and chest tissues of A. cerana cerana, cloned and sequenced for nucleotides and amino acids. [Result]The amplified apamin gene from head and chest tissue of A. cerana cerana was 511 bp in length with 24% GC content. The sequence contained a 141 bp open reading frame which encoded 46 amino acid residues. The protein of apamin showed 58% homology to mast cell degranulating-peptide precursor, which is another important bioactive peptide in bee toxin. A signal peptide sequence and transmembrane domain were also found in apamin protein. [Conclusion]The apamin is a micromolecule antibiosis peptide, and has a signal peptide sequence and transmembrane domains and characteristics of bio-antibiosis peptide. It may play an important role after deleting the signal peptide sequences.