Identification of molecular factors associated with eusociality based on the diversification of Transposable Elements in bees: structural and functional aspects of genomic repeats

• Grant number: 25/05153-7
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• Start date: November 01, 2025
• End date: October 31, 2028
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Zoology - Physiology of Recent Groups
• Principal Investigator: Zilá Luz Paulino Simões
• Grantee: Patrick Douglas de Souza dos Santos
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Filosofia, Ciências e Letras de Ribeirão Preto (FFCLRP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Ribeirão Preto , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 20/13296-9 - Molecular basis of behavioral plasticity and reproductive strategies in life histories evolution of Neotropical stingless bees, AP.TEM

Abstract

Transposable Elements (TEs) are genomic repeats present in all eukaryotes, characterized by their ability to transpose and replicate within host genomes. Systematic advances have been made in the structural and functional classification of these sequences, revealing their roles as regulatory agents of biological processes. Alternatively, TEs can destabilize these processes due to their molecular characteristics; however, host genomes possess mechanisms to repress or regulate TE activity and even co-opt these actions for their own benefit. Among metazoans, genomic repeats exhibit wide varieties of types and quantities, which is particularly notable in arthropods. This project aims to identify and describe the structural and functional aspects of TE as regulatory factors related to the evolution of social behavior in bees. To achieve the proposed objectives, different species of eusocial and solitary bees at various developmental stages will be used as models. By integrating genomic and transcriptomic data, we will characterize the diversity of TE, their age, genomic location of their copies, and their expression profile, as well as their association with gene and regulatory regions. From this approach, we expect to identify TE related to the social behavior of bees at different levels. Furthermore, comparing TE transcripts present in different castes and developmental stages will help identify which TE may be related to different biological scenarios. In addition to illuminating the molecular aspects of TE in bees, the project will establish (1) a new line of research for the group, aiming to expand the research scope in comparative genomics and developmental biology and (2) create and make available a TE database (BeeTEDBase) for bees, assisting researchers in the field, both in Brazil and abroad, in consulting repetitive elements.