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(Reference retrieved automatically from Web of Science through information on FAPESP grant and its corresponding number as mentioned in the publication by the authors.)

Caste-specific gene expression underlying the differential adult brain development in the honeybee Apis mellifera

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Author(s):
de Paula Junior, D. E. [1] ; de Oliveira, M. T. [1] ; Bruscadin, J. J. [1] ; Pinheiro, D. G. [2] ; Bomtorin, A. D. [3] ; Coelho Junior, V. G. [1] ; Moda, L. M. R. [1] ; Simoes, Z. L. P. [4] ; Barchuk, A. R. [1]
Total Authors: 9
Affiliation:
[1] Univ Fed Alfenas, UNIFAL MG, Inst Ciencias Biomed, Dept Biol Celular & Desenvolvimento, Rua Gabriel Monteiro Silva 700, Campus Sede, BR-37130000 Alfenas, MG - Brazil
[2] UNESP Univ Estadual Paulista, Fac Ciencias Agr & Vet, Sao Paulo - Brazil
[3] Univ Sao Paulo, Fac Med Ribeir ao Preto, Dept Genet, Sao Paulo - Brazil
[4] Univ Sao Paulo, Fac Filosofia Ciencias & Letras Ribeirao Preto, Dept Biol, Sao Paulo - Brazil
Total Affiliations: 4
Document type: Journal article
Source: Insect Molecular Biology; v. 30, n. 1, p. 42-56, FEB 2021.
Web of Science Citations: 1
Abstract

Apis mellifera adult workers feature more developed key brain regions than queens, which allows them to cope with the broad range of duties they need to perform in a colony. However, at the end of larval development, the brain of queens is largely more developed than that of workers. Major morphogenetic changes take place after metamorphosis that shift caste-specific brain development. Here, we tested the hypothesis that this phenomenon is hormonally governed and involves differential gene expression. Our molecular screening approach revealed a set of differentially expressed genes in Pp (first pharate-adult phase) brains between castes mainly coding for tissue remodelling and energy-converting proteins (e.g. hex 70a and ATPsyn beta). An in-depth qPCR analysis of the transcriptional behaviour during pupal and pharate-adult developmental stage in both castes and in response to artificially augmented hormone titres of 18 genes/variants revealed that: i. subtle differences in hormone titres between castes might be responsible for the differential expression of the EcR and insulin/insulin-like signalling (IIS) pathway genes; ii. the morphogenetic activity of the IIS in brain development must be mediated by ILP-2, iii. which together with the tum, mnb and caspase system, can constitute the molecular effectors of the caste-specific opposing brain developmental trajectories. (AU)

FAPESP's process: 11/03171-5 - Causal analysis of Apis mellifera development: regulatory genes and hierachical networks of gene expression in the specification of tissue and organs
Grantee:Zilá Luz Paulino Simões
Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants
FAPESP's process: 05/03926-5 - Functional genomics of Apis mellifera: search for new genes and functional networks in the context of development, different castes and reproduction
Grantee:Zilá Luz Paulino Simões
Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants