Cloning and characterization of an adenine nucleotide translocator gene in Apis cerana cerana (Hymenoptera: Apidae)

The adenine nucleotide translocator (ANT), which has not been well studied in hymenopteran insects, catalyzes the transport of ATP and ADP across the impermeable mitochondrial membrane and plays a key role in the regulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and cell death. In this study, we isolated and characterized a single-copy ANT gene, referred as AccANT, from Apis cerana cerana (Fabricius) (Hymenoptera: Apidae). An alignment analysis showed that the deduced AccANT amino acid sequence has high identity with other known ANTs. Based on the genomic DNA sequence, a partial 5′-flanking region was obtained and some putative cis-acting elements related to the development and stresses were also predicted. Real-time quantitative PCR analysis indicated that the accumulation of AccANT transcripts could be detected in all development stages but reached its highest level in 1-day-old adult worker honey bees. Simultaneously, AccANT was also primarily localized in the thorax tissue of adults. Moreover, AccANT expression was found to be induced in response to temperature stress and H2O2 injection. These results suggest that AccANT may be involved in the regulation of development and in reducing ROS generation when suffering from environmental stress.