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The Family of Major Royal Jelly Proteins and Its Evolution

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Abstract.

A cDNA encoding a new member of the gene family of major royal jelly proteins (MRJPs) from the honeybee, Apis mellifera, was isolated and sequenced. Royal jelly (RJ) is a secretion of the cephalic glands of nurse bees. The origin and biological function of the protein component (12.5%, w/w) of RJ is unknown. We show that the MRJP gene family encodes a group of closely related proteins that share a common evolutionary origin with the yellow protein of Drosophila melanogaster. Yellow protein functions in cuticle pigmentation in D. melanogaster. The MRJPs appear to have evolved a novel nutritional function in the honeybee.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, Institute of Chemistry, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dúbravská cesta 9, SK-842 38 Bratislava, Slovakia, , , , , , CS

    Stefan Albert, Jaroslav Klaudiny, Jana Schmitzová & Jozef Simúth

  2. University of Iowa, Department of Biological Sciences, 239 Biology Building, Iowa City, IA 52242-1324, USA, , , , , , US

    Debashish Bhattacharya

Authors
  1. Stefan Albert
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  2. Debashish Bhattacharya
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  3. Jaroslav Klaudiny
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  4. Jana Schmitzová
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  5. Jozef Simúth
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Received: 26 September 1998 / Accepted: 28 February 1999

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Albert, S., Bhattacharya, D., Klaudiny, J. et al. The Family of Major Royal Jelly Proteins and Its Evolution. J Mol Evol 49, 290–297 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1007/PL00006551

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/PL00006551

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