Abstract: 【Aim】 This study aims to clone the cDNA sequence of Malvolio (Mvl) gene in  Apis cerana cerana, to analyze the structure of its coding protein, and to explore its expression profiles of mRNA in different tissues of nurse, nectar forager and pollen forager. This may provide a fundamental evidence for the future study of the physiological function of this gene. 【Methods】 The cDNA sequence of  Acmvl  was cloned from the brain of A. c. cerana  nurse by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). A quantitative analysis of its expression level in different tissues (antenna, head, thorax, abdomen and leg) of the nurse, nectar forager and pollen forager was conducted using real-time PCR.【Results】 The full-length cDNA sequence of Acmvl of A. c. cerana is 2 130 bp (GenBank accession no. KP662686), encoding 578 amino acids with the predicted MW and pI of 65.86 kD and 6.03, respectively. The encoded protein has no signal peptide but has 11 transmembrane domains, 9 predicted glycosylation sites and 14 potential phosphorylation sites. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that Acmvl of A. c. cerana and Malvolio proteins of other Hymenoptera insects gather in the same clade, and Acmvl of A. c. cerana and Nramp2 proteins of Nramp family from Mus musculus and Homo sapiensgather in another clade. Acmvl of A. c. cerana has an extensive similarity to Nramp proteins of Mus musculus, Oryza sativa, Drosophila melanogaster and Saccharomyces cerevisiae in transmembrane domain (TM), charged residues of TM and transport motif, especially with Nramp2 proteins. The Acmvl transcript was clearly detected in different tissues of the worker, and was expressed significantly higher in thorax of nurse, abdomen and legs of nectar and pollen forager, suggesting that the expression of Acmvl gene has an effect on foraging behavior of bees. 【Conclusion】 As a member of the family of Nramp, Acmvl gene may be homologous with Nramp2, and it affects foraging behavior in part because of its involvement in transportation of Fe²⁺，Cu²⁺ and Mn²⁺, especially Fe²⁺.

Key words: Apis cerana cerana, Malvolio (Mvl), gene cloning, sequence analysis, tissue expression profile