Comparative approach of cuticular maturation heterochrony in social and solitary bees using RNA-Seq, hydrocarbons quantification and electron microscopy

• Grant number: 12/24284-5
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Start date: May 01, 2013
• End date: April 30, 2016
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Genetics - Animal Genetics
• Principal Investigator: Marcia Maria Gentile Bitondi
• Grantee: Tiago Falcon Lopes
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto (FMRP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Ribeirão Preto , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 11/03171-5 - Causal analysis of Apis mellifera development: regulatory genes and hierachical networks of gene expression in the specification of tissue and organs, AP.TEM

Abstract

Comparative studies from our laboratory (Laboratório de Biologia do Desenvolvimento de Abelhas-FFCLRP-USP) demonstrated differences in the progress of melanization and sclerotization of the exoskeleton (cuticle) among bee species, as well as variation in expression of two genes involved in these processes: the genes encoding the laccase 2 enzyme and the neuropeptide bursicon. These data suggest the hypothesis that the cuticle of social bees is only fully mature when they reach a certain stage in the adult stage and begin the outside-nest activities. In contrast, the cuticle of solitary bees has to be completely prepared when they emerge and leave the nest to search other places to nest. We chose the social species Apis mellifera and Frieseomelitta varia, which emerge from the comb with an immature exoskeleton, and the solitary species Tetrapedia diversipes and Centris (Heterocentris) analis that emerge with the exoskeleton fully mature as biological models to understand the molecular basis of the complexity of the process of differentiation of the cuticular exoskeleton and heterochrony. We propose here the use of next-generation sequencing (RNA-Seq) to identify the transcriptome of the integument (skin and associated cuticle) at critical moments of cuticular differentiation and maturation. In parallel, gas chromatography and mass spectrometry will be used to identify and quantify cuticular hydrocarbons, and the architecture and thickness of the exoskeleton will be examined by transmission electron microscopy. This comparative approach should result in unprecedented and modern information on molecular biology of exoskeleton differentiation at the molecular level, on cuticular hydrocarbons composition and on the timing of complete structuration of the cuticle in model species of social and solitary bees.

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

FALCON, TIAGO; PINHEIRO, DANIEL G.; FERREIRA-CALIMAN, MARIA JULIANA; TURATTI, IZABEL C. C.; PINTO DE ABREU, FABIANO C.; GALASCHI-TEIXEIRA, JULIANA S.; MARTINS, JULIANA R.; ELIAS-NETO, MOYSES; SOARES, MICHELLE P. M.; LAURE, MARCELA B.; et al. Exploring integument transcriptomes, cuticle ultrastructure, and cuticular hydrocarbons profiles in eusocial and solitary bee species displaying heterochronic adult cuticle maturation. PLoS One, v. 14, n. 3, MAR 14 2019. (14/13136-0, 11/03171-5, 14/50265-3, 12/24284-5)

MARTELLI, FELIPE; FALCON, TIAGO; PINHEIRO, DANIEL G.; SIMOES, ZILA L. P.; NUNES, FRANCIS M. F.. Worker bees (Apis mellifera) deprived of pollen in the first week of adulthood exhibit signs of premature aging. Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, v. 146, p. 11-pg., 2022-07-01. (11/03171-5, 12/24284-5, 10/10027-5, 07/07594-2)

Academic Publications

(References retrieved automatically from State of São Paulo Research Institutions)

LOPES, Tiago Falcon. A comparative approach of cuticular maturation in social and solitary bees using RNAseq, hydrocarbons\' quantification, and electron microscopy. 2016. Doctoral Thesis - Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto (PCARP/BC) Ribeirão Preto.