151
|
|
152
|
Cuticular hydrocarbon profiles indicate reproductive status in the termite Zootermopsis nevadensis. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 2009. [DOI: 10.1007/s00265-009-0807-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
|
153
|
Kou R, Chang HW, Chen SC, Ho HY. Suppression pheromone and cockroach rank formation. THE SCIENCE OF NATURE - NATURWISSENSCHAFTEN 2009; 96:691-701. [PMID: 19280169 DOI: 10.1007/s00114-009-0522-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2008] [Revised: 02/19/2009] [Accepted: 02/21/2009] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Although agonistic behaviors in the male lobster cockroach (Nauphoeta cinerea) are well known, the formation of an unstable hierarchy has long been a puzzle. In this study, we investigate how the unstable dominance hierarchy in N. cinerea is maintained via a pheromone signaling system. In agonistic interactions, aggressive posture (AP) is an important behavioral index of aggression. This study showed that, during the formation of a governing hierarchy, thousands of nanograms of 3-hydroxy-2-butanone (3H-2B) were released by the AP-adopting dominant in the first encounter fight, then during the early domination period and that this release of 3H-2B was related to rank maintenance, but not to rank establishment. For rank maintenance, 3H-2B functioned as a suppression pheromone, which suppressed the fighting capability of rivals and kept them in a submissive state. During the period of rank maintenance, as the dominant male gradually decreased his 3H-2B release, the fighting ability of the subordinate gradually developed, as shown by the increasing odds of a subordinate adopting an AP (OSAP). The OSAP was negatively correlated with the amount of 3H-2B released by the dominant and positively correlated with the number of domination days. The same OSAP could be achieved earlier by reducing the amount of 3H-2B released by the dominant indicates that whether the subordinate adopts an offensive strategy depends on what the dominant is doing.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rong Kou
- Institute of Cellular and Organismic Biology, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan 115, Republic of China.
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
154
|
Malka O, Katzav-Gozansky T, Hefetz A. Uncoupling fertility from fertility-associated pheromones in worker honeybees (Apis mellifera). JOURNAL OF INSECT PHYSIOLOGY 2009; 55:205-209. [PMID: 19041321 DOI: 10.1016/j.jinsphys.2008.11.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2008] [Revised: 10/29/2008] [Accepted: 11/03/2008] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
Fertility-associated pheromones, chemical signals delineating ovarian development, were favourably selected in the course of evolution because it is in the best interest of both the signallers (in recruiting help from other colony members) and the receivers (in assisting them to reach an informed decision of how to maximize fitness). Such signals therefore should constitute honest, deception-proof indicators of ovarian development, suggesting, theoretically, that the processes of ovarian development and signal production are irreversibly coupled. Here we demonstrate that these processes can be uncoupled by treating queenless (QL) honeybee callow workers with methoprene, a juvenile hormone (JH) analog. While methoprene effectively inhibited ovarian development, it neither inhibited Dufour's fertility signal nor the mandibular glands' dominance signal. In fact, there was even a slight augmentation of both in the methoprene-treated bees. Thus, although fertility and fertility signals are tightly associated, they can be uncoupled by experimental manipulation. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that ovarian development and fertility-associated signal production are triggered by a common event/signal (e.g. queen pheromone disappearance) but comprise different regulatory systems. The evolutionary implication is that these two traits have evolved independently and may have been co-opted to emphasize the reproductive status of workers in the competition for reproduction.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Osnat Malka
- Department of Zoology, Tel Aviv University, Ramat Aviv, 69978 Tel Aviv, Israel.
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
155
|
Amsalem E, Twele R, Francke W, Hefetz A. Reproductive competition in the bumble-bee Bombus terrestris: do workers advertise sterility? Proc Biol Sci 2009; 276:1295-304. [PMID: 19129137 PMCID: PMC2660966 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2008.1688] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Reproductive competition in social insects is generally mediated through specific fertility pheromones. By analysing Dufour's gland secretion in queens and workers of Bombus terrestris under varying social conditions, we demonstrate here that the volatile constituents of the secretion exhibit a context-dependent composition. The secretion of egg-laying queens is composed of a series of aliphatic hydrocarbons (alkanes and alkenes), while that of sterile workers contains in addition octyl esters, dominated by octyl hexadecanoate and octyl oleate. These esters disappear in workers with developed ovaries, whether queenright (QR) or queenless (QL), rendering their secretion queen-like. This constitutes an unusual case in which the sterile caste, rather than the fertile one, possesses extra components. Individually isolated (socially deprived) workers developed ovaries successfully, but failed to oviposit, and still possessed the octyl esters. Thus, whereas social interactions are not needed in order to develop ovaries, they appear essential for oviposition and compositional changes in Dufour's gland secretion (ester disappearance). The apparent link between high ester levels and an inability to lay eggs lends credence to the hypothesis that these esters signal functional sterility. We hypothesize that by producing a sterility-specific secretion, workers signal that 'I am out of the competition', and therefore are not attacked, either by the queen or by the reproductive workers. This enables proper colony function and brood care, in particular sexual brood, even under the chaotic conditions of the competition phase.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Etya Amsalem
- Department of Zoology, George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel.
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
156
|
Expression of vitellogenin and transferrin in activated ovaries of worker honey bees, Apis mellifera. Biochem Genet 2008; 47:19-26. [PMID: 19096928 DOI: 10.1007/s10528-008-9202-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2007] [Accepted: 07/10/2008] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
|
157
|
Thompson GJ, Kucharski R, Maleszka R, Oldroyd BP. Genome-wide analysis of genes related to ovary activation in worker honey bees. INSECT MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2008; 17:657-665. [PMID: 19133075 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2583.2008.00838.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
A defining characteristic of eusocial animals is their division of labour into reproductive and nonreproductive specialists. Here, we used a microarray study to identify genes associated with functional sterility in the worker honey bee Apis mellifera. We contrasted gene expression in workers from a functionally sterile wild-type strain with that in a mutant (anarchist) strain selected for high rates of ovary activation. We identified a small set of genes from the brain (n = 7) and from the abdomen (n = 5) that are correlated in their expression with early stages of ovary activation. Sterile wild-type workers up-regulated two unknown genes and a homologue of Drosophila CG6004. By contrast, reproductive anarchist workers up-regulated genes for the yolk protein vitellogenin, venom peptides and a member of the AdoHycase superfamily, among others. The differentially expressed genes identified are likely to be involved in early differentiation into sterile and reproductive worker phenotypes and may therefore form part of the gene networks associated with the regulation of honey bee worker sterility. Our study may have lacked sufficient power to detect all but a minority of biologically relevant changes taking place; however, the differential expression of vitellogenin and a putative AdoHycase suggests that our screen has captured core reproductive genes and that ovary activation may involve an epigenetic mechanism.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- G J Thompson
- Behaviour and Genetics of Social Insects Laboratory, School of Biological Sciences, University of Sydney, NSW, Australia.
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
158
|
Richard FJ, Aubert A, Grozinger CM. Modulation of social interactions by immune stimulation in honey bee, Apis mellifera, workers. BMC Biol 2008; 6:50. [PMID: 19014614 PMCID: PMC2596086 DOI: 10.1186/1741-7007-6-50] [Citation(s) in RCA: 92] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2008] [Accepted: 11/17/2008] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Immune response pathways have been relatively well-conserved across animal species, with similar systems in both mammals and invertebrates. Interestingly, honey bees have substantially reduced numbers of genes associated with immune function compared with solitary insect species. However, social species such as honey bees provide an excellent environment for pathogen or parasite transmission with controlled environmental conditions in the hive, high population densities, and frequent interactions. This suggests that honey bees may have developed complementary mechanisms, such as behavioral modifications, to deal with disease. Results Here, we demonstrate that activation of the immune system in honey bees (using bacterial lipopolysaccharides as a non-replicative pathogen) alters the social responses of healthy nestmates toward the treated individuals. Furthermore, treated individuals expressed significant differences in overall cuticular hydrocarbon profiles compared with controls. Finally, coating healthy individuals with extracts containing cuticular hydrocarbons of immunostimulated individuals significantly increased the agonistic responses of nestmates. Conclusion Since cuticular hydrocarbons play a critical role in nestmate recognition and other social interactions in a wide variety of insect species, modulation of such chemical profiles by the activation of the immune system could play a crucial role in the social regulation of pathogen dissemination within the colony.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- F-J Richard
- Department of Entomology, WM Keck Center for Behavioral Biology, Gardner Hall, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA.
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
159
|
Thompson GJ, Yockey H, Lim J, Oldroyd BP. Experimental manipulation of ovary activation and gene expression in honey bee (Apis mellifera) queens and workers: testing hypotheses of reproductive regulation. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2008; 307:600-10. [PMID: 17786975 DOI: 10.1002/jez.415] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
A fundamental issue in sociobiology is to understand how social insect females regulate their individual reproduction to maximize colony and personal fitness. Although the social cues mediating reproductive output within castes of the honey bees (Apis mellifera) are understood at a basic level, the underlying gene regulatory networks are not. In this study, we investigate the expression of 25 genes whose function suggests a role in the gene networks that regulate ovary activation--a functional determinant of reproductive skew. To this end, we used CO2 narcosis to manipulate ovary activation in queens and workers, and then quantified concomitant changes in gene expression using quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Of the 25 genes studied, ten were differentially expressed between treated and control groups in at least one caste. Two of these genes, a ribosomal protein and a tyramine receptor, were differentially expressed between treatments and controls in both castes. We use the expression pattern of all differentially expressed genes to test hypotheses for the caste-specific regulation of ovary activation in honey bees.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Graham J Thompson
- Behaviour and Genetics of Social Insects Laboratory, School of Biological Sciences A12, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
160
|
Kocher SD, Richard FJ, Tarpy DR, Grozinger CM. Genomic analysis of post-mating changes in the honey bee queen (Apis mellifera). BMC Genomics 2008; 9:232. [PMID: 18489784 PMCID: PMC2413142 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2164-9-232] [Citation(s) in RCA: 84] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2008] [Accepted: 05/19/2008] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The molecular mechanisms underlying the post-mating behavioral and physiological transitions undergone by females have not been explored in great detail. Honey bees represent an excellent model system in which to address these questions because they exhibit a range of "mating states," with two extremes (virgins and egg-laying, mated queens) that differ dramatically in their behavior, pheromone profiles, and physiology. We used an incompletely-mated mating-state to understand the molecular processes that underlie the transition from a virgin to a mated, egg-laying queen. We used same-aged virgins, queens that mated once but did not initiate egg-laying, and queens that mated once and initiated egg-laying. Results Differences in the behavior and physiology among groups correlated with the underlying variance observed in the top 50 predictive genes in the brains and the ovaries. These changes were correlated with either a behaviorally-associated pattern or a physiologically-associated pattern. Overall, these results suggest that the brains and the ovaries of queens are uncoupled or follow different timescales; the initiation of mating triggers immediate changes in the ovaries, while changes in the brain may require additional stimuli or take a longer time to complete. Comparison of our results to previous studies of post-mating changes in Drosophila melanogaster identified common biological processes affected by mating, including stress response and alternative-splicing pathways. Comparison with microarray data sets related to worker behavior revealed no obvious correlation between genes regulated by mating and genes regulated by behavior/physiology in workers. Conclusion Studying the underlying molecular mechanisms of post-mating changes in honey bee queens will not only give us insight into how molecular mechanisms regulate physiological and behavioral changes, but they may also lead to important insights into the evolution of social behavior. Post-mating changes in gene regulation in the brains and ovaries of honey bee queens appear to be triggered by different stimuli and may occur on different timescales, potentially allowing changes in the brains and the ovaries to be uncoupled.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sarah D Kocher
- Department of Genetics, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA.
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
161
|
Strauss K, Scharpenberg H, Crewe RM, Glahn F, Foth H, Moritz RFA. The role of the queen mandibular gland pheromone in honeybees (Apis mellifera): honest signal or suppressive agent? Behav Ecol Sociobiol 2008. [DOI: 10.1007/s00265-008-0581-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
|
162
|
Aggressive reproductive competition among hopelessly queenless honeybee workers triggered by pheromone signaling. Naturwissenschaften 2008; 95:553-9. [DOI: 10.1007/s00114-008-0358-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2007] [Revised: 01/30/2008] [Accepted: 02/05/2008] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
|
163
|
Kin composition effects on reproductive competition among queenless honeybee workers. Naturwissenschaften 2008; 95:427-32. [DOI: 10.1007/s00114-008-0343-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2007] [Revised: 12/23/2007] [Accepted: 01/12/2008] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
|
164
|
Abstract
Social insect are profoundly influenced by primer pheromones (PPhs), which are efficient means for maintaining social harmony in the colony. PPhs act by affecting the physiology of the recipients with a subsequent shift in their behavior, and many PPhs have a releaser effect (i.e., changing the probability of performing a certain behavior upon perception). In this review we try to clarify the interplay between such dual pheromonal effects. Only a few PPhs have been identified, and we provide evidence for their existence in multiple species of social Hymenoptera, which is the most extensively studied of the social insects. We focus on the regulation of reproduction, social policing, and task allocation. Considering PPhs in a broad sense, we also discuss fertility signals and the role of cuticular hydrocarbons as putative PPhs. Identification of the underlying chemistry of PPhs offers insights into insect physiology and the evolution of social behavior. PPhs of the honey bee are used to demonstrate the complexity of pheromonal communication in social insects.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yves Le Conte
- INRA, UMR406 INRA-UAPV Ecologie des Invertébrés, Laboratoire de Biologie et Protection de l'Abeille, 84914, Avignon, France.
| | | |
Collapse
|
165
|
Sandoz JC, Deisig N, de Brito Sanchez MG, Giurfa M. Understanding the logics of pheromone processing in the honeybee brain: from labeled-lines to across-fiber patterns. Front Behav Neurosci 2007; 1:5. [PMID: 18958187 PMCID: PMC2525855 DOI: 10.3389/neuro.08.005.2007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2007] [Accepted: 11/30/2007] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Honeybees employ a very rich repertoire of pheromones to ensure intraspecific communication in a wide range of behavioral contexts. This communication can be complex, since the same compounds can have a variety of physiological and behavioral effects depending on the receiver. Honeybees constitute an ideal model to study the neurobiological basis of pheromonal processing, as they are already one of the most influential animal models for the study of general odor processing and learning at behavioral, cellular and molecular levels. Accordingly, the anatomy of the bee brain is well characterized and electro- and opto-physiological recording techniques at different stages of the olfactory circuit are possible in the laboratory. Here we review pheromone communication in honeybees and analyze the different stages of olfactory processing in the honeybee brain, focusing on available data on pheromone detection, processing and representation at these different stages. In particular, we argue that the traditional distinction between labeled-line and across-fiber pattern processing, attributed to pheromone and general odors respectively, may not be so clear in the case of honeybees, especially for social-pheromones. We propose new research avenues for stimulating future work in this area.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jean-Christophe Sandoz
- Research Center for Animal Cognition, CNRS - University Paul Sabatier, Toulouse Cedex 9 France.
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
166
|
Grozinger CM, Fan Y, Hoover SER, Winston ML. Genome-wide analysis reveals differences in brain gene expression patterns associated with caste and reproductive status in honey bees (Apis mellifera). Mol Ecol 2007; 16:4837-48. [PMID: 17927707 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-294x.2007.03545.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 149] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
A key characteristic of eusocial species is reproductive division of labour. Honey bee colonies typically have a single reproductive queen and thousands of sterile workers. Adult queens differ dramatically from workers in anatomy, physiology, behaviour and lifespan. Young female workers can activate their ovaries and initiate egg laying; these 'reproductive' workers differ from sterile workers in anatomy, physiology, and behaviour. These differences, however, are on a much smaller scale than those observed between the queen and worker castes. Here, we use microarrays to monitor expression patterns of several thousand genes in the brains of same-aged virgin queens, sterile workers, and reproductive workers. We found large differences in expression between queens and both worker groups (~2000 genes), and much smaller differences between sterile and reproductive workers (221 genes). The expression patterns of these 221 genes in reproductive workers are more queen-like, and may represent a core group of genes associated with reproductive physiology. Furthermore, queens and reproductive workers preferentially up-regulate genes associated with the nurse bee behavioural state, which supports the hypothesis of an evolutionary link between worker division of labour and molecular pathways related to reproduction. Finally, several functional groups of genes associated with longevity in other species are significantly up-regulated in queens. Identifying the genes that underlie the differences between queens, sterile workers, and reproductive workers will allow us to begin to characterize the molecular mechanisms underlying the evolution of social behaviour and large-scale remodelling of gene networks associated with polyphenisms.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Christina M Grozinger
- Department of Entomology, W.M. Keck Center for Behavioural Biology, 2315 Gardner Hall, MC 7613, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA.
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
167
|
Richard FJ, Tarpy DR, Grozinger CM. Effects of insemination quantity on honey bee queen physiology. PLoS One 2007; 2:e980. [PMID: 17912357 PMCID: PMC1989138 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0000980] [Citation(s) in RCA: 77] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2007] [Accepted: 09/12/2007] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Mating has profound effects on the physiology and behavior of female insects, and in honey bee (Apis mellifera) queens, these changes are permanent. Queens mate with multiple males during a brief period in their early adult lives, and shortly thereafter they initiate egg-laying. Furthermore, the pheromone profiles of mated queens differ from those of virgins, and these pheromones regulate many different aspects of worker behavior and colony organization. While it is clear that mating causes dramatic changes in queens, it is unclear if mating number has more subtle effects on queen physiology or queen-worker interactions; indeed, the effect of multiple matings on female insect physiology has not been broadly addressed. Because it is not possible to control the natural mating behavior of queens, we used instrumental insemination and compared queens inseminated with semen from either a single drone (single-drone inseminated, or SDI) or 10 drones (multi-drone inseminated, or MDI). We used observation hives to monitor attraction of workers to SDI or MDI queens in colonies, and cage studies to monitor the attraction of workers to virgin, SDI, and MDI queen mandibular gland extracts (the main source of queen pheromone). The chemical profiles of the mandibular glands of virgin, SDI, and MDI queens were characterized using GC-MS. Finally, we measured brain expression levels in SDI and MDI queens of a gene associated with phototaxis in worker honey bees (Amfor). Here, we demonstrate for the first time that insemination quantity significantly affects mandibular gland chemical profiles, queen-worker interactions, and brain gene expression. Further research will be necessary to elucidate the mechanistic bases for these effects: insemination volume, sperm and seminal protein quantity, and genetic diversity of the sperm may all be important factors contributing to this profound change in honey bee queen physiology, queen behavior, and social interactions in the colony.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Freddie-Jeanne Richard
- Department of Entomology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, United States of America
- Department of Genetics, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, United States of America
- W.M. Keck Center for Behavioural Biology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - David R. Tarpy
- Department of Entomology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, United States of America
- W.M. Keck Center for Behavioural Biology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Christina M. Grozinger
- Department of Entomology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, United States of America
- Department of Genetics, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, United States of America
- W.M. Keck Center for Behavioural Biology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, United States of America
| |
Collapse
|
168
|
Abstract
Queen mandibular pheromone (QMP) has profound effects on dopamine signaling in the brain of young worker honey bees. As dopamine in insects has been strongly implicated in aversive learning, we examined QMP's impact on associative olfactory learning in bees. We found that QMP blocks aversive learning in young workers, but leaves appetitive learning intact. We postulate that QMP's effects on aversive learning enhance the likelihood that young workers remain in close contact with their queen by preventing them from forming an aversion to their mother's pheromone bouquet. The results provide an interesting twist to a story of success and survival.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Vanina Vergoz
- Department of Zoology, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
169
|
Boulay R, Hefetz A, Cerdá X, Devers S, Francke W, Twele R, Lenoir A. Production of sexuals in a fission-performing ant: dual effects of queen pheromones and colony size. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 2007. [DOI: 10.1007/s00265-007-0385-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
|
170
|
Beggs KT, Glendining KA, Marechal NM, Vergoz V, Nakamura I, Slessor KN, Mercer AR. Queen pheromone modulates brain dopamine function in worker honey bees. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2007; 104:2460-4. [PMID: 17287354 PMCID: PMC1892986 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.0608224104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 107] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2006] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Honey bee queens produce a sophisticated array of chemical signals (pheromones) that influence both the behavior and physiology of their nest mates. Most striking are the effects of queen mandibular pheromone (QMP), a chemical blend that induces young workers to feed and groom the queen and primes bees to perform colony-related tasks. But how does this pheromone operate at the cellular level? This study reveals that QMP has profound effects on dopamine pathways in the brain, pathways that play a central role in behavioral regulation and motor control. In young worker bees, dopamine levels, levels of dopamine receptor gene expression, and cellular responses to this amine are all affected by QMP. We identify homovanillyl alcohol as a key contributor to these effects and provide evidence linking QMP-induced changes in the brain to changes at a behavioral level. This study offers exciting insights into the mechanisms through which QMP operates and a deeper understanding of the queen's ability to regulate the behavior of her offspring.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kyle T. Beggs
- *Department of Zoology, University of Otago, P.O. Box 56, Dunedin, New Zealand; and
| | - Kelly A. Glendining
- *Department of Zoology, University of Otago, P.O. Box 56, Dunedin, New Zealand; and
| | - Nicola M. Marechal
- *Department of Zoology, University of Otago, P.O. Box 56, Dunedin, New Zealand; and
| | - Vanina Vergoz
- *Department of Zoology, University of Otago, P.O. Box 56, Dunedin, New Zealand; and
| | - Ikumi Nakamura
- *Department of Zoology, University of Otago, P.O. Box 56, Dunedin, New Zealand; and
| | - Keith N. Slessor
- Department of Chemistry, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada V5A 1S6
| | - Alison R. Mercer
- *Department of Zoology, University of Otago, P.O. Box 56, Dunedin, New Zealand; and
| |
Collapse
|
171
|
Katzav-Gozansky T, Hefetz A, Soroker V. Brain modulation of Dufour's gland ester biosynthesis in vitro in the honeybee (Apis mellifera). Naturwissenschaften 2007; 94:407-11. [PMID: 17235597 DOI: 10.1007/s00114-006-0206-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2006] [Revised: 11/15/2006] [Accepted: 11/21/2006] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Caste-specific pheromone biosynthesis is a prerequisite for reproductive skew in the honeybee. Nonetheless, this process is not hardwired but plastic, in that egg-laying workers produce a queen-like pheromone. Studies with Dufour's gland pheromone revealed that, in vivo, workers' gland biosynthesis matches the social status of the worker, i.e., sterile workers showed a worker-like pattern whereas fertile workers showed a queen-like pattern (production of the queen-specific esters). However, when incubated in vitro, the gland spontaneously exhibits the queen-like pattern, irrespective of its original worker type, prompting the notion that ester production in workers is under inhibitory control that is queen-dependent. We tested this hypothesis by exposing queen or worker Dufour's glands in vitro to brain extracts of queens, queenright (sterile) workers and males. Unexpectedly, worker brain extracts activated the queen-like esters biosynthesis in workers' Dufour's gland. This stimulation was gender-specific; queen or worker brains demonstrated a stimulatory activity, but male brains did not. Queen gland could not be further stimulated. Bioassays with heated and filtered extracts indicate that the stimulatory brain factor is below 3,000 Da. We suggest that pheromone production in Dufour's gland is under dual, negative-positive control. Under queenright conditions, the inhibitor is released and blocks ester biosynthesis, whereas under queenless conditions, the activator is released, activating ester biosynthesis in the gland. This is consistent with the hypothesis that queenright workers are unequivocally recognized as non-fertile, whereas queenless workers try to become "false queens" as part of the reproductive competition.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tamar Katzav-Gozansky
- Department of Zoology, George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Ramat Aviv, Tel Aviv, Israel.
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
172
|
Grozinger CM, Robinson GE. Endocrine modulation of a pheromone-responsive gene in the honey bee brain. J Comp Physiol A Neuroethol Sens Neural Behav Physiol 2006; 193:461-70. [PMID: 17192826 DOI: 10.1007/s00359-006-0202-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2006] [Revised: 11/27/2006] [Accepted: 12/01/2006] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Pheromones cause dramatic changes in behavior and physiology, and are critical for honey bee colony organization. Queen mandibular pheromone (QMP) regulates multiple behaviors in worker bees (Slessor et al. in J Chem Ecol 31(11):2731-2745, 2005). We also identified genes whose brain expression levels were altered by exposure to QMP (Grozinger et al. in Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 100(Suppl 2):14519-14525, 2003). Krüppel-homolog 1 (Kr-h1) RNA levels were significantly downregulated by QMP, and were higher in foragers than in nurses (Whitfield et al. in Science 302(5643):296-299, 2003). Here we report on results of behavioral and pharmacological experiments that characterize factors regulating expression of Kr-h1. Foragers have higher brain levels of Kr-h1 than in-hive bees, regardless of age and pheromone exposure. Furthermore, forager Kr-h1 levels were not affected by QMP. Since the onset of foraging is caused, in part, by increasing juvenile hormone blood titers and brain octopamine levels, we investigated the effects of octopamine and methoprene (a juvenile hormone analog) on Kr-h1 expression. Methoprene produced a marginal (not significant) increase in Kr-h1 expression, but Kr-h1 brain levels in methoprene-treated bees were no longer downregulated by QMP. Octopamine did not modulate Kr-h1 expression. Our results demonstrate that the gene expression response to QMP is not hard-wired in the brain but is instead dependent on worker behavioral state.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Christina M Grozinger
- Department of Entomology, W.M. Keck Center for Behavioral Biology, North Carolina State University, 2315 Gardner Hall, P.O. Box 7613, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA.
| | | |
Collapse
|
173
|
Plasticity of worker reproductive strategies in Bombus terrestris: lessons from artificial mixed-species colonies. Anim Behav 2006. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2006.05.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
|
174
|
Malka O, Shnieor S, Hefetz A, Katzav-Gozansky T. Reversible royalty in worker honeybees (Apis mellifera) under the queen influence. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 2006. [DOI: 10.1007/s00265-006-0274-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
|
175
|
Thompson GJ, Kucharski R, Maleszka R, Oldroyd BP. Towards a molecular definition of worker sterility: differential gene expression and reproductive plasticity in honey bees. INSECT MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2006; 15:637-44. [PMID: 17069629 PMCID: PMC1847478 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2583.2006.00678.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
We show that differences in the reproductive development of honey bee workers are associated with locus-specific changes to abundance of messenger RNA. Using a cross-fostering field experiment to control for differences related to age and environment, we compared the gene expression profiles of functionally sterile workers (wild-type) and those from a mutant strain in which workers are reproductively active (anarchist). Among the set of three genes that are significantly differentially expressed are two major royal jelly proteins that are up-regulated in wild-type heads. This discovery is consistent with sterile workers synthesizing royal jelly as food for developing brood. Likewise, the relative underexpression of these two royal jellies in anarchist workers is consistent with these workers' characteristic avoidance of alloparental behaviour, in favour of selfish egg-laying. Overall, there is a trend for the most differentially expressed genes to be up-regulated in wild-type workers. This pattern suggests that functional sterility in honey bee workers may generally involve the expression of a suite of genes that effectively 'switch' ovaries off, and that selfish reproduction in honey bee workers, though rare, is the default developmental pathway that results when ovary activation is not suppressed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- G J Thompson
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Sydney, Sydney NSW, Australia.
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
176
|
Abstract
Animal models contribute to the understanding of molecular mechanism of cancer, revealing complex roles of altered cellular-signaling networks and deficient surveillance systems. Analogous pathologies are documented in an unconventional model organism that receives attention in research on systems theory, evolution, and aging. The honeybee (Apis mellifera) colony is an advanced integrative unit, a "superorganism" in which order is controlled via complex signaling cascades and surveillance schemes. A facultatively sterile caste, the workers, regulates patterns of growth, differentiation, homeostasis, and death. Workers differentiate into temporal phenotypes in response to dynamic social cues; chemosensory signals that can translate into dramatic physiological responses, including programmed cell death. Temporal worker forms function together, and effectively identify and terminate abnormal colony members ranging from embryos to adults. As long as this regulatory system is operational at a colony level, the unit survives and propagates. However, if the worker phenotypes that collectively govern order become too few or change into malignant forms that bypass control mechanisms to replicate aberrantly; order is replaced by disorder that ultimately leads to the destruction of the society. In this chapter we describe fundamental properties of honeybee social organization, and explore conditions that lead to states of disorder. Our hope is that this chapter will be an inspirational source for ongoing and future work in the field of cancer research.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Gro V Amdam
- Arizona State University, School of Life Sciences, Tempe, Arizona 85287, USA
| | | |
Collapse
|
177
|
Ovariole number—a predictor of differential reproductive success among worker subfamilies in queenless honeybee (Apis mellifera L.) colonies. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 2006. [DOI: 10.1007/s00265-006-0225-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
|
178
|
Social parasitism by honeybee workers (Apis mellifera capensis Esch.): evidence for pheromonal resistance to host queen’s signals. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 2006. [DOI: 10.1007/s00265-006-0222-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
|
179
|
Schäfer MO, Dietemann V, Pirk CWW, Neumann P, Crewe RM, Hepburn HR, Tautz J, Crailsheim K. Individual versus social pathway to honeybee worker reproduction (Apis mellifera): pollen or jelly as protein source for oogenesis? J Comp Physiol A Neuroethol Sens Neural Behav Physiol 2006; 192:761-8. [PMID: 16508763 DOI: 10.1007/s00359-006-0112-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2005] [Revised: 01/31/2006] [Accepted: 02/05/2006] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
Honeybee workers, Apis mellifera, can reproduce in queenless colonies. The production of queen-like pheromones may be associated with their reproductive activity and induce nestmates to respond by feeding them. Such frequent trophallaxis could supply their protein needs for oogenesis, constituting a social pathway to worker reproduction. However, some individuals can develop ovaries without producing queen pheromones. The consumption of protein-rich pollen could be an alternative solitary pathway for them to satisfy this dietary requirement. In order to investigate the way in which workers obtain proteins for oogenesis, we created orphaned worker groups and determined ovarian and pheromonal development in relation to pollen consumption of selected workers. Individuals that did not consume pollen had significantly more developed ovaries and produced significantly more queen mandibular pheromone than workers that fed directly on pollen. Our results suggest that workers producing queen-like secretions are fed trophallactically. However, reproductive workers that lacked queen pheromones had consumed little or no pollen, suggesting that they also obtained trophallaxis. Although pollen consumption might contribute to sustaining oogenesis, it does not appear to be sufficient. Trophallaxis as a means of obtaining proteins seems to be necessary to attain reproductive status in queenless honeybee colonies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- M O Schäfer
- Chemisches und Veterinäruntersuchungsamt Freiburg, Am Moosweiher 2, 79108 Freiburg, Germany.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
180
|
Tamar KG, Raphaël B, Victoria S, Abraham H. Queen pheromones affecting the production of queen-like secretion in workers. J Comp Physiol A Neuroethol Sens Neural Behav Physiol 2006; 192:737-42. [PMID: 16482439 DOI: 10.1007/s00359-006-0110-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2005] [Revised: 01/19/2006] [Accepted: 01/28/2006] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
The honeybee queen pheromones promote both worker sterility and worker-like pheromone composition; in their absence workers become fertile and express the queen pheromones. Which of the queen pheromones regulate worker pheromone expression and how, is still elusive. Here we investigated how two queen pheromones, the mandibular and Dufour's, singly or combined, affect worker ovarian activation and occurrence of queen-like Dufour's esters. Although queen mandibular pheromone (QMP) alone, or combined with Dufour's secretion, inhibited to some extent worker reproduction, neither was as effective as the queen. The effect of the queen pheromones on worker pheromone expression was limited to workers with developed ovaries. Here too, QMP and Dufour's combined had the greatest inhibitory effect. In contrast, treatment with Dufour's alone resulted in augmentation of esters in the workers. This is another demonstration that a pheromone emitted by one individual affects the rates of its production in another individual. Ester production was tightly coupled to ovarian development. However fertile workers from queenright or QMP-treated colonies had significantly higher amounts of esters in their Dufour's gland than untreated queenless colonies. The fact that the queen or QMP exert greater suppression on signal production than on ovary activation, suggests disparate regulatory pathways, and presents a challenging ultimate as well as proximate questions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Katzav-Gozansky Tamar
- Department of Zoology, George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, 69978 Ramat Aviv, Tel Aviv, Israel.
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
181
|
Slessor KN, Winston ML, Le Conte Y. Pheromone communication in the honeybee (Apis mellifera L.). J Chem Ecol 2005; 31:2731-45. [PMID: 16273438 DOI: 10.1007/s10886-005-7623-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 205] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2004] [Revised: 07/12/2005] [Accepted: 07/14/2005] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Recent studies have demonstrated a remarkable and unexpected complexity in social insect pheromone communication, particularly for honeybees (Apis mellifera L.). The intricate interactions characteristic of social insects demand a complex language, based on specialized chemical signals that provide a syntax that is deeper in complexity and richer in nuance than previously imagined. Here, we discuss this rapidly evolving field for honeybees, the only social insect for which any primer pheromones have been identified. Novel research has demonstrated the importance of complexity, synergy, context, and dose, mediated through spatial and temporal pheromone distribution, and has revealed an unprecedented wealth of identified semiochemicals and functions. These new results demand fresh terminology, and we propose adding "colony pheromone" and "passenger pheromone" to the current terms sociochemical, releaser, and primer pheromone to better encompass our growing understanding of chemical communication in social insects.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Keith N Slessor
- Department of Chemistry, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada V5A 1S6
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
182
|
Hoover SER, Higo HA, Winston ML. Worker honey bee ovary development: seasonal variation and the influence of larval and adult nutrition. J Comp Physiol B 2005; 176:55-63. [PMID: 16228242 DOI: 10.1007/s00360-005-0032-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2005] [Revised: 09/13/2005] [Accepted: 09/20/2005] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
We examined the effect of larval and adult nutrition on worker honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) ovary development. Workers were fed high or low-pollen diets as larvae, and high or low-protein diets as adults. Workers fed low-protein diets at both life stages had the lowest levels of ovary development, followed by those fed high-protein diets as larvae and low- quality diets as adults, and then those fed diets poor in protein as larvae but high as adults. Workers fed high-protein diets at both life stages had the highest levels of ovary development. The increases in ovary development due to improved dietary protein in the larval and adult life stages were additive. Adult diet also had an effect on body mass. The results demonstrate that both carry-over of larval reserves and nutrients acquired in the adult life stage are important to ovary development in worker honey bees. Carry-over from larval development, however, appears to be less important to adult fecundity than is adult nutrition. Seasonal trends in worker ovary development and mass were examined throughout the brood rearing season. Worker ovary development was lowest in spring, highest in mid-summer, and intermediate in fall.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shelley E R Hoover
- Department of Biological Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada.
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
183
|
|
184
|
Retinue attraction and ovary activation: responses of wild type and anarchistic honey bees (Apis mellifera) to queen and brood pheromones. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 2005. [DOI: 10.1007/s00265-005-0039-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
|
185
|
Dufour’s gland pheromone as a reliable fertility signal among honeybee (Apis mellifera) workers. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 2005. [DOI: 10.1007/s00265-005-0923-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
|
186
|
Katzav-Gozansky T, Boulay R, Soroker V, Hefetz A. Queen-signal modulation of worker pheromonal composition in honeybees. Proc Biol Sci 2004; 271:2065-9. [PMID: 15451697 PMCID: PMC1691821 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2004.2839] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Worker sterility in honeybees is neither absolute nor irreversible. Whether under queen or worker control, it is likely to be mediated by pheromones. Queen-specific pheromones are not exclusive to queens; workers with activated ovaries also produce them. The association between ovarian activation and queen-like pheromone occurrence suggests the latter as providing a reliable signal of reproductive ability. In this study we investigated the effect of queen pheromones on ovary development and occurrence of queen-like esters in workers' Dufour's gland. Workers separated from the queenright compartment by a double mesh behaved like queenless workers, activating their ovaries and expressing a queen-like Dufour's gland secretion, confirming that the pheromones regulating both systems are non-volatile. Workers with developed ovaries produced significantly more secretion than sterile workers, which we attribute primarily to increased ester production. Workers separated from the queenright compartment by a single mesh displayed a delayed ovarian development, which we attribute to interrupted transfer of the non-volatile pheromone between compartments. We suggest that worker expression of queen-like characters reflects a queen-worker arms race; and that Dufour's gland secretion may provide a reliable signal for ovarian activation. The associative nature between ovary development and Dufour's gland ester production remains elusive.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tamar Katzav-Gozansky
- Department of Zoology, George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Ramat Aviv, 69978 Tel Aviv, Israel.
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
187
|
Endler A, Liebig J, Schmitt T, Parker JE, Jones GR, Schreier P, Hölldobler B. Surface hydrocarbons of queen eggs regulate worker reproduction in a social insect. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2004; 101:2945-50. [PMID: 14993614 PMCID: PMC365725 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.0308447101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 186] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
A hitherto largely unresolved problem in behavioral biology is how workers are prevented from reproducing in large insect societies with high relatedness. Signals of the queen are assumed to inform the nestmates about her presence in the colony, which leads to indirect fitness benefits for workers. In the ant Camponotus floridanus, we found such a signal located on queen-laid eggs. In groups of workers that were regularly provided with queen-laid eggs, larvae, and cocoons, with larvae and cocoons alone, or with no brood, only in the groups with queen-laid eggs did workers not lay eggs. Thus, the eggs seem to inform the nestmates about the queen's presence, which induces workers to refrain from reproducing. The signal on queen-laid eggs is presumably the same that enables workers to distinguish between queen- and worker-laid eggs. Despite their viability, the latter are destroyed by workers when given a choice between both types. Queen- and worker-laid eggs differ in their surface hydrocarbons in a way similar to the way fertile queens differ from workers in the composition of their cuticular hydrocarbons. When we transferred hydrocarbons from the queen cuticle to worker-laid eggs, the destruction of those eggs was significantly mitigated. We conclude that queen-derived hydrocarbon labels inform workers about the presence of a fertile queen and thereby regulate worker reproduction.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Annett Endler
- Lehrstuhl Verhaltensphysiologie und Soziobiologie, Universität Würzburg, 97074 Wuerzburg, Germany
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
188
|
Pankiw T. Worker honey bee pheromone regulation of foraging ontogeny. Naturwissenschaften 2004; 91:178-81. [PMID: 15085275 DOI: 10.1007/s00114-004-0506-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2003] [Accepted: 01/31/2004] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
The evolution of sociality has configured communication chemicals, called primer pheromones, which play key roles in regulating the organization of social life. Primer pheromones exert relatively slow effects that fundamentally alter developmental, physiological, and neural systems. Here, I demonstrate how substances extracted from the surface of foraging and young pre-foraging worker bees regulated age at onset of foraging, a developmental process. Hexane-extractable compounds washed from foraging workers increased foraging age compared with controls, whereas extracts of young pre-foraging workers decreased foraging age. This represents the first known direct demonstration of primer pheromone activity derived from adult worker bees.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tanya Pankiw
- Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843-2475, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
189
|
|
190
|
Grozinger CM, Sharabash NM, Whitfield CW, Robinson GE. Pheromone-mediated gene expression in the honey bee brain. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2003; 100 Suppl 2:14519-25. [PMID: 14573707 PMCID: PMC304112 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2335884100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 264] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
We tested the hypothesis that queen mandibular pheromone (QMP) causes changes in gene expression in the brain of the adult worker honey bee, and that these changes can be correlated to the downstream behavioral responses induced by QMP. In support of the first hypothesis, cage experiments revealed that QMP transiently regulated expression of several hundred genes and chronically regulated the expression of 19 genes. Several of these genes were also affected by QMP in experiments with bee colonies in the field, demonstrating robust gene regulation by pheromone. To evaluate the second hypothesis, we focused on one function of QMP: delaying the transition from working in the hive (e.g., brood care, or "nursing") to foraging. We compared the list of QMP-regulated genes with the lists of genes differentially regulated in nurse and forager brains generated in a separate study. QMP consistently activated "nursing genes" and repressed "foraging genes," suggesting that QMP may delay behavioral maturation by regulating genes in the brain that produce these behavioral states. We also report here on an ortholog of the Drosophila transcription factor kruppel homolog 1 that was strongly regulated by QMP, especially in the mushroom bodies of the bee brain. These results demonstrate chronic gene regulation by a primer pheromone and illustrate the potential of genomics to trace the actions of a pheromone from perception to action, and thereby provide insights into how pheromones regulate social life.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Christina M Grozinger
- Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA.
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|