Identification of low-abundance proteins in the royal jelly using the Osborne classification method

Royal jelly (RJ) is recognized as healthy food, with a high content of proteins. These proteins play important roles in honeybee caste and human health, but the proteomic analysis of low-abundance proteins in RJ has long been a challenge. Herein, we used the Osborne classification method to separate the RJ proteins of Xinjiang black bees into various fractions. The globulin, ethanol-soluble protein, and glutelin fractions were further separated by SDS-PAGE, and proteomic analysis was carried out by LC-MS/MS and searched against the UniProt database. A total of 23 secretory proteins were identified by proteomic analysis, in which 7 proteins were identified for the first time in RJ. The Osborne classification method combining one-dimensional gel electrophoresis-based proteomic analysis allows the identification of low-abundance proteins in the RJ and greatly extends the knowledge about the components and functions of RJ proteins. The raw data are available via ProteomeXchange with the identifier PXD023315.

Significance

This study makes an important contribution to the research of the components and functions of low-abundance royal jelly proteins for the following reasons:

• 1.

  The Osborne method was applied to fractionize the royal jelly proteins, which benefits the identification of low-abundance proteins.

• 2.

  23 secretory proteins were identified from the globulins, the ethanol-soluble proteins, and the glutelins of the RJ, and there were 7 proteins identified for the first time in royal jelly.

• 3.

  This study extends the knowledge about the components and functions of royal jelly proteins.