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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.)

Juvenile Hormone Biosynthesis Gene Expression in the corpora allata of Honey Bee (Apis mellifera L.) Female Castes

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Author(s):
Bomtorin, Ana Durvalina [1] ; Mackert, Aline [1, 2] ; Couto Rosa, Gustavo Conrado [3] ; Moda, Livia Maria [1] ; Martins, Juliana Ramos [1] ; Gentile Bitondi, Marcia Maria [3] ; Hartfelder, Klaus [4] ; Paulino Simoes, Zila Luz [3]
Total Authors: 8
Affiliation:
[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Fac Med Ribeirao Preto, Dept Genet, BR-14049 Ribeirao Preto - Brazil
[2] Univ Fed Mato Grosso do Sul, Dept Ciencias Ambiente, Corumba - Brazil
[3] Univ Sao Paulo, Fac Filosofia Ciencias & Letras Ribeirao Preto, Dept Biol, Ribeirao Preto - Brazil
[4] Univ Sao Paulo, Fac Med Ribeirao Preto, Dept Biol Celular & Mol Bioagentes Patogen, BR-14049 Ribeirao Preto - Brazil
Total Affiliations: 4
Document type: Journal article
Source: PLoS One; v. 9, n. 1 JAN 29 2014.
Web of Science Citations: 25
Abstract

Juvenile hormone (JH) controls key events in the honey bee life cycle, viz. caste development and age polyethism. We quantified transcript abundance of 24 genes involved in the JH biosynthetic pathway in the corpora allata-corpora cardiaca (CA-CC) complex. The expression of six of these genes showing relatively high transcript abundance was contrasted with CA size, hemolymph JH titer, as well as JH degradation rates and JH esterase (jhe) transcript levels. Gene expression did not match the contrasting JH titers in queen and worker fourth instar larvae, but jhe transcript abundance and JH degradation rates were significantly lower in queen larvae. Consequently, transcriptional control of JHE is of importance in regulating larval JH titers and caste development. In contrast, the same analyses applied to adult worker bees allowed us inferring that the high JH levels in foragers are due to increased JH synthesis. Upon RNAi-mediated silencing of the methyl farnesoate epoxidase gene (mfe) encoding the enzyme that catalyzes methyl farnesoate-to-JH conversion, the JH titer was decreased, thus corroborating that JH titer regulation in adult honey bees depends on this final JH biosynthesis step. The molecular pathway differences underlying JH titer regulation in larval caste development versus adult age polyethism lead us to propose that mfe and jhe genes be assayed when addressing questions on the role(s) of JH in social evolution. (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
FAPESP's process: 09/05675-0 - Differential gene expression and induction of morphological characters in Apis mellifera
Grantee:Ana Durvalina Bomtorin
Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate