Proteome of the head and thorax salivary glands in the stingless bee Melipona quadrifasciata anthidioides

Abstract

The exocrine glands of social insects are related to the social communication, reproduction, and development of individuals. Eusocial bees have two types of salivary glands: the head salivary gland, which possibly functions in marking food sources, and the thorax salivary gland, which produces saliva. This study evaluated the major protein content of the head and thorax salivary glands of the stingless bee Melipona quadrifasciata anthidioides forager workers. The head salivary gland expresses 27 proteins in high quantity, including heat shock proteins, enzymes of the glycolysis pathway, gene regulation proteins, and an odorant-binding protein. The thorax salivary gland expresses 12 proteins, including heat shock proteins, cellular detoxification proteins, energy metabolism proteins, and proteins linked to environmental stress. The proteins identified in both the head and thorax salivary glands contribute to our understanding of their possible functions in stingless bees.