Makara Journal of Science
Vol. 23, No. 3

Characterization of Exon and Intron of Defensin 1 Gene in Apis cerana and Apis dorsata

Alfiyan, Achmad (Unknown)
Raffiudin, Rika (Unknown)
Astuti, Rika Indri (Unknown)



Article Info

Publish Date
30 Sep 2019

Abstract

Honey bee defensin 1 gene belongs to the class of immunity genes in this social insect. The peptide acts as a defensive mechanism against infections caused by Gram-positive bacteria. The aim of this study was to characterize exon 2, intron 2, and exon 3 of defensin 1 gene in both the Indonesian honey bees Apis cerana and A. dorsata. First, defensin 1 genes of A. cerana and A. dorsata were sequenced, after which a bioinformatic analysis was conducted. The amplified length of these defensin 1 genes of A. cerana and A. dorsata were 479 and 458 bp, respectively, and their putative amino acid sequences comprised 66 and 65 amino acids, respectively, with 6 cysteine residues. The cysteine residues formed a disulfide bond and then linked the three domains in the defensin peptide with each other, thereby allowing the lysis of the bacterial membrane through pore formation. Intron 2 of the defensin gene demonstrated nucleotide variations between A. cerana from Indonesia and that from Korea and between A. dorsata from Indonesia and that from Malaysia; the latter species also demonstrated variations in exon 3. Phylogenetic tree topology of the bee, which was constructed based on defensin 1 gene, was compatible with a previous study showing that A. cerana and A. dorsata are more closely related to A. mellifera than to A. florea.

Copyrights © 2019






Journal Info

Abbrev

publication:science

Publisher

Subject

Description

Makara Journal of Science publishes original research or theoretical papers, notes, and minireviews on new knowledge and research or research applications on current issues in basic sciences, namely: Material Sciences (including: physics, biology, and chemistry); Biochemistry, Genetics, and ...