Vitellogenin expression in the ovaries of adult honeybee workers provides insights into the evolution of reproductive and social traits

Autor(es)

Cardoso-Junior, C. A. M. ^[1] ; Oldroyd, B. P. ^[2] ; Ronai, I. ^[2]

Afiliação do(s) autor(es)

^[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Fac Med Ribeir ao Preto, Dept Biol Celular & Bioagentes Patogen, Ribeirao Preto - Brazil

^[2] Univ Sydney, Sch Life & Environm Sci A12, Behav & Genet Social Insects Lab, Ecol & Evolut, Sydney, NSW - Australia

• Tipo de documento: Artigo Científico
• Fonte: Insect Molecular Biology; v. 30, n. 3 JAN 2021.
• Citações Web of Science: 0

Resumo

Social insects are notable for having two female castes that exhibit extreme differences in their reproductive capacity. The molecular basis of these differences is largely unknown. Vitellogenin (Vg) is a powerful antioxidant and insulin-signalling regulator used in oocyte development. Here we investigate how Royal Jelly (the major food of honeybee queens) and queen mandibular pheromone (a major regulator of worker fertility), affect the longevity and reproductive status of honey bee workers, the expression of Vg, its receptor VgR and associated regulatory proteins. We find that Vg is expressed in the ovaries of workers and that workers fed a queen diet of Royal Jelly have increased Vg expression in the ovaries. Surprisingly, we find that expression of Vg is not associated with ovary activation in workers, suggesting that this gene has potentially acquired non-reproductive functions. Therefore, Vg expression in the ovaries of honeybee workers provides further support for the Ovarian Ground Plan Hypothesis, which argues that genes implicated in the regulation of reproduction have been co-opted to regulate behavioural differences between queens and workers. (AU)

• Processo FAPESP: 17/09269-3 - Análises do metiloma de ovários de operárias Apis mellifera L. em diferentes condições sociais
• Beneficiário: Carlos Antônio Mendes Cardoso Júnior
• Modalidade de apoio: Bolsas no Exterior - Estágio de Pesquisa - Doutorado Direto
• Processo FAPESP: 16/15881-0 - Análises epigenéticas e expressão gênica do trade-off (longevidade x reprodução) de rainhas em Apis mellifera L. (Apidae, Hymenoptera)
• Beneficiário: Carlos Antônio Mendes Cardoso Júnior
• Modalidade de apoio: Bolsas no Brasil - Doutorado Direto