Honeybee Apis mellifera L., 1758 (Hymenoptera: Apidae) enzymes as possible biomarkers for the assessment of environmental contamination with pesticides

Abstract

The honeybees of the genus Apis, mainly Apis mellifera L., 1758, stand out greatly in the worldwide context both for their products and the important pollinating activities. In the field of science, much research is carried out to improve knowledge on their social organization, biology, behavior in addition to the protection of this species from exogenous agents, such as xenobiotics. Out of the molecular techniques which can be used, biochemical studies can be utilized to evaluate (a) detoxification system by means of the enzymes carboxylesterases (CaE) and glutathione S-transferase (GST), which out of the several functions are responsible for insect resistance to insecticides; (b) oxidative stress enzymes, such as catalase (CAT) and GST, which has functions to eliminate peroxides and free radicals in oxygen-reactive species; (c) alkaline phosphatase (ALP), bound mainly to the digestive process and metabolite transport; (d) biomarker of exposition to xenobiotics, aiming to determine environmental quality and (e) the effect on acetylcholinesterase (AChE), which has a function to mediate nervous impulse transmition at cholinergic synapses.