Molecular cloning of cDNA and analysis of expression of the gene for alpha-glucosidase from the hypopharyngeal gland of the honeybee Apis mellifera L.

Previously, we identified and purified an alpha-glucosidase with a molecular mass of 70 kDa from a homogenate of the hypopharyngeal gland of the older worker bee (forager bee) Apis mellifera L. (T. Kubo et al, J. Biochem., 1996, 119, 291-295). Here, we isolated and sequenced a cDNA for the alpha-glucosidase. The cDNA encoded a protein consisting of 650 amino acids, which had high sequence identity with fruit fly and mosquito possible maltase gene products. RT-PCR showed that the gene was expressed specifically in the hypopharyngeal gland of the forager bee.