vitellogenin cDNA was cloned from the bumblebee Bombus ignitus. The cDNA encoding B. ignitus vitellogenin (BiVg) is 5473 bases long with an open reading frame of 1773 amino acid residues. BiVg possesses two consensus (RXXR/S) cleavage sites and has the conserved DGXR and GL/ICG motif near its C-terminus. The deduced amino acid sequence of BiVg cDNA showed significant similarity with hymenopteran Vgs (51% identity to Apis mellifera Vg, and 33-36% to other insect Vgs). The BiVg cDNA was expressed as a 200-kDa polypeptide in baculovirus-infected insect Sf9 cells. Northern and Western blot analyses showed the expression of BiVg in fat bodies of pupae and adults. In queens, the expression of BiVg was first detected in late pupal stage fat bodies, and secreted BiVg was also observed in late pupal stage hemolymph.

• Kyung Yong Lee(College of Natural Resources and Life Science, Dong-A University, Department of Agricultural Biology, National Academy of Agricultural Science)
• Hyung Joo Yoon(Department of Agricultural Biology, National Academy of Agricultural Science)
• Sang Beom Lee(Department of Agricultural Biology, National Academy of Agricultural Science)
• In Gyun Park(Department of Agricultural Biology, National Academy of Agricultural Science)
• Hung Dae Sohn(College of Natural Resources and Life Science, Dong-A University)
• Byung Rae Jin(College of Natural Resources and Life Science, Dong-A University)