CANAVOSO LILIAN ETELVINA
Congresos y reuniones científicas
Título:
CHARACTERIZATION OF NITRIC OXIDE SYNTHASE IN SPECIALIST AND PARASITIC SOLITARY BEES
Autor/es:
GALVANI GL; DE BENEDICTIS M; CANAVOSO LE; SETTEMBRINI, BP
Lugar:
La Falda, Cordoba
Reunión:
Jornada; XIX Reunion Anual de la Sociedad de Biología de Córdoba; 2013
Institución organizadora:
Sociedad de Biología de Córdoba
Resumen:
Nitric oxide (NO) is recognized as a signaling molecule in the insect
nervous system. Several experiments in Apis mellifera suggest an
important role of this molecule in the processing of olfactory
information as well as in learning and memory formation. To localize
the presence of NO synthase (NOS), we carried out
immunocytochemistry, histochemistry and western blot (WB)
experiments in pollen collecting (NP) and parasitic (P) bees. Using
an antibody directed to the C-terminal sequence of the enzyme,
WB experiments revealed a band at approximately 130 kDa in both
NP and P species. NOS activity was evaluated in brain homogenates
by following spectrophotometrically the oxidation of
oxyhemoglobin to methemoglobin. This activity varies from 40,3
to 27,9 nmol/min/mg protein in NP bees whereas in P insects, it
ranged from 7,8 to 16,9 nmol/min/mg protein. NADPH diaphorase
histochemistry allowed detection of positive somata and fibers in
the mushroom body calices and the antennal lobes. These results
suggest that NO production is mainly present in olfactory brain
areas. NP females showed higher levels of NOS activity than P
females. In conclusion, NO might be related with the detection and
processing of olfactory information during foraging.
nervous system. Several experiments in Apis mellifera suggest an
important role of this molecule in the processing of olfactory
information as well as in learning and memory formation. To localize
the presence of NO synthase (NOS), we carried out
immunocytochemistry, histochemistry and western blot (WB)
experiments in pollen collecting (NP) and parasitic (P) bees. Using
an antibody directed to the C-terminal sequence of the enzyme,
WB experiments revealed a band at approximately 130 kDa in both
NP and P species. NOS activity was evaluated in brain homogenates
by following spectrophotometrically the oxidation of
oxyhemoglobin to methemoglobin. This activity varies from 40,3
to 27,9 nmol/min/mg protein in NP bees whereas in P insects, it
ranged from 7,8 to 16,9 nmol/min/mg protein. NADPH diaphorase
histochemistry allowed detection of positive somata and fibers in
the mushroom body calices and the antennal lobes. These results
suggest that NO production is mainly present in olfactory brain
areas. NP females showed higher levels of NOS activity than P
females. In conclusion, NO might be related with the detection and
processing of olfactory information during foraging.
