Sequence and Expression Characteristics of Long Noncoding RNAs in Honey Bee Caste Development - Potential Novel Regulators for Transgressive Ovary Size

Author(s)

Humann, Fernanda C. ^[1] ; Tiberio, Gustavo J. ^[1] ; Hartfelder, Klaus ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Fac Med Ribeirao Preto, Dept Biol Celular & Mol & Bioagentes Patogen, BR-14049 Ribeirao Preto, SP - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: PLoS One; v. 8, n. 10 OCT 31 2013.
• Web of Science Citations: 26

Abstract

Division of labor in social insect colonies relies on a strong reproductive bias that favors queens. Although the ecological and evolutionary success attained through caste systems is well sketched out in terms of ultimate causes, the molecular and cellular underpinnings driving the development of caste phenotypes are still far from understood. Recent genomics approaches on honey bee developmental biology revealed a set of genes that are differentially expressed genes in larval ovaries and associated with transgressive ovary size in queens and massive cell death in workers. Amongst these, two contigs called special attention, both being over 200 bp in size and lacking apparent coding potential. Herein, we obtained their full cDNA sequences. These and their secondary structure characteristics placed in evidence that they are bona fide long noncoding RNAs (lncRNA) differentially expressed in larval ovaries, thus named lncov1 and lncov2. Genomically, both map within a previously identified QTL on chromosome 11, associated with transgressive ovary size in honey bee workers. As lncov1 was over-expressed in worker ovaries we focused on this gene. Real-time qPCR analysis on larval worker ovaries evidenced an expression peak coinciding with the onset of autophagic cell death. Cellular localization analysis through fluorescence in situ hybridization revealed perinuclear spots resembling omega speckles known to regulate trafficking of RNA-binding proteins. With only four lncRNAs known so far in honey bees, two expressed in the ovaries, these findings open a novel perspective on regulatory factors acting in the fine tuning of developmental processes underlying phenotypic plasticity related to social life histories. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 12/01808-9 - Transcriptional regulation of caste development in the honey bee, Apis mellifera L.
• Grantee: Klaus Hartmann Hartfelder
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• FAPESP's process: 11/15810-2 - Functional analysis of lnc-ovary-1 (Group11.31), the first long non-coding RNA in Apis mellifera, caste-specific development in the ovary
• Grantee: Gustavo Jacomini Tibério
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• 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