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Araujo NDS, Ogihara F, Martins PM, Arias MC. Insights from Melipona bicolor hybrid genome assembly: a stingless bee genome with chromosome-level scaffold. BMC Genomics 2024; 25:171. [PMID: 38350872 PMCID: PMC10863234 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-024-10075-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2023] [Accepted: 02/01/2024] [Indexed: 02/15/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The highly eusocial stingless bees are crucial pollinators of native and agricultural ecosystems. Nevertheless, genomic studies within this bee tribe remain scarce. We present the genome assembly of the stingless bee Melipona bicolor. This bee is a remarkable exception to the typical single-queen colony structure, since in this species, multiple queens may coexist and share reproductive duties, resulting in genetically diverse colonies with weak kinship connections. As the only known genuinely polygynous bee, M. bicolor's genome provides a valuable resource for investigating sociality beyond kin selection. RESULTS The genome was assembled employing a hybrid approach combining short and long reads, resulting in 241 contigs spanning 259 Mb (N50 of 6.2 Mb and 97.5% complete BUSCOs). Comparative analyses shed light on some evolutionary aspects of stingless bee genomics, including multiple chromosomal rearrangements in Melipona. Additionally, we explored the evolution of venom genes in M. bicolor and other stingless bees, revealing that, apart from two genes, the conserved repertoire of venom components remains under purifying selection in this clade. CONCLUSION This study advances our understanding of stingless bee genomics, contributing to the conservation efforts of these vital pollinators and offering insights into the evolutionary mechanisms driving their unique adaptations.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Fernando Ogihara
- Laboratory of Genetics and Evolution of Bees, Bioscience Institute, Universidade de São Paulo - USP, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Pedro Mariano Martins
- Gene Expression and Evolution Laboratory, Bioscience Institute, Universidade de São Paulo - USP, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Maria Cristina Arias
- Laboratory of Genetics and Evolution of Bees, Bioscience Institute, Universidade de São Paulo - USP, São Paulo, Brazil
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von Reumont BM, Dutertre S, Koludarov I. Venom profile of the European carpenter bee Xylocopa violacea: Evolutionary and applied considerations on its toxin components. Toxicon X 2022; 14:100117. [PMID: 35309263 PMCID: PMC8927852 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxcx.2022.100117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2022] [Revised: 03/04/2022] [Accepted: 03/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Modern venomics is increasing its focus on hymenopterans such as honeybees, bumblebees, parasitoid wasps, ants and true wasps. However solitary bees remain understudied in comparison and the few available venom studies focus on short melittin-like sequences and antimicrobial peptides. Herein we describe the first comprehensive venom profile of a solitary bee, the violet carpenter bee Xylocopa violacea, by using proteo-transcriptomics. We reveal a diverse and complex venom profile with 43 different protein families identified from dissected venom gland extracts of which 32 are also detected in the defensively injected venom. Melittin and apamin are the most highly secreted components, followed by Phospholipase A2, Icarapin, Secapin and three novel components. Other components, including eight novel protein families, are rather lowly expressed. We further identify multiple forms of apamin-like peptides. The melittin-like sequences of solitary bees separate into two clades, one comprised most sequences from solitary bees including xylopin (the variant in Xylocopa), while sequences from Lasioglossa appear closer related to melittin-like peptides from Bombus (Bombolittins). Our study suggests that more proteo-transcriptomic data from other solitary bees should be complemented with corresponding genome data to fully understand the evolution and complexity of bee venom proteins, and is of a particular need to disentangle the ambiguous phylogenetic relations of short peptides. Venoms of solitary bees are so far surprisingly little studied. We analyse here the venom profile from the solitary carpenter bee X. violacea. The venom of X. violacea is similar complex as in honey bees. Besides new melittin variants eight novel venom components are identified. Our results contribute to understand better the evoluiton of bee venoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Björn M. von Reumont
- Goethe University Frankfurt, Institute for Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Department for Applied Bioinformatics, 60438, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
- Justus Liebig University of Giessen, Institute for Insect Biotechnology, Heinrich-Buff-Ring 58, 35392, Giessen, Germany
- LOEWE Centre for Translational Biodiversity Genomics (LOEWE TBG), Senckenberganlage 25, 60325, Frankfurt, Germany
- Corresponding author. Goethe University Frankfurt, Institute for Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Department for Applied Bioinformatics, 60438, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
| | | | - Ivan Koludarov
- Justus Liebig University of Giessen, Institute for Insect Biotechnology, Heinrich-Buff-Ring 58, 35392, Giessen, Germany
- Corresponding author
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Scieuzo C, Salvia R, Franco A, Pezzi M, Cozzolino F, Chicca M, Scapoli C, Vogel H, Monti M, Ferracini C, Pucci P, Alma A, Falabella P. An integrated transcriptomic and proteomic approach to identify the main Torymus sinensis venom components. Sci Rep 2021; 11:5032. [PMID: 33658582 PMCID: PMC7930282 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-84385-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2020] [Accepted: 12/22/2020] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
During oviposition, ectoparasitoid wasps not only inject their eggs but also a complex mixture of proteins and peptides (venom) in order to regulate the host physiology to benefit their progeny. Although several endoparasitoid venom proteins have been identified, little is known about the components of ectoparasitoid venom. To characterize the protein composition of Torymus sinensis Kamijo (Hymenoptera: Torymidae) venom, we used an integrated transcriptomic and proteomic approach and identified 143 venom proteins. Moreover, focusing on venom gland transcriptome, we selected additional 52 transcripts encoding putative venom proteins. As in other parasitoid venoms, hydrolases, including proteases, phosphatases, esterases, and nucleases, constitute the most abundant families in T. sinensis venom, followed by protease inhibitors. These proteins are potentially involved in the complex parasitic syndrome, with different effects on the immune system, physiological processes and development of the host, and contribute to provide nutrients to the parasitoid progeny. Although additional in vivo studies are needed, initial findings offer important information about venom factors and their putative host effects, which are essential to ensure the success of parasitism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carmen Scieuzo
- grid.7367.50000000119391302Department of Sciences, University of Basilicata, Via dell’Ateneo Lucano 10, 85100 Potenza, Italy ,grid.7367.50000000119391302Spinoff XFlies S.R.L, University of Basilicata, Via dell’Ateneo Lucano 10, 85100 Potenza, Italy
| | - Rosanna Salvia
- grid.7367.50000000119391302Department of Sciences, University of Basilicata, Via dell’Ateneo Lucano 10, 85100 Potenza, Italy ,grid.7367.50000000119391302Spinoff XFlies S.R.L, University of Basilicata, Via dell’Ateneo Lucano 10, 85100 Potenza, Italy
| | - Antonio Franco
- grid.7367.50000000119391302Department of Sciences, University of Basilicata, Via dell’Ateneo Lucano 10, 85100 Potenza, Italy ,grid.7367.50000000119391302Spinoff XFlies S.R.L, University of Basilicata, Via dell’Ateneo Lucano 10, 85100 Potenza, Italy
| | - Marco Pezzi
- grid.8484.00000 0004 1757 2064Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, University of Ferrara, Via L. Borsari 46, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
| | - Flora Cozzolino
- grid.4691.a0000 0001 0790 385XDepartment of Chemical Sciences, University Federico II of Napoli, Via Cinthia 6, 80126 Naples, Italy ,CEINGE Advanced Biotechnology, Via Gaetano Salvatore 486, 80126 Naples, Italy
| | - Milvia Chicca
- grid.8484.00000 0004 1757 2064Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, University of Ferrara, Via L. Borsari 46, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
| | - Chiara Scapoli
- grid.8484.00000 0004 1757 2064Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, University of Ferrara, Via L. Borsari 46, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
| | - Heiko Vogel
- grid.418160.a0000 0004 0491 7131Department of Entomology, Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, Hans-Knöll-Straße 8, 07745 Jena, Germany
| | - Maria Monti
- grid.4691.a0000 0001 0790 385XDepartment of Chemical Sciences, University Federico II of Napoli, Via Cinthia 6, 80126 Naples, Italy ,CEINGE Advanced Biotechnology, Via Gaetano Salvatore 486, 80126 Naples, Italy
| | - Chiara Ferracini
- grid.7605.40000 0001 2336 6580Department of Agricultural, Forest and Food Sciences, University of Torino, Largo Paolo Braccini 2, 10095 Grugliasco, Italy
| | - Pietro Pucci
- grid.4691.a0000 0001 0790 385XDepartment of Chemical Sciences, University Federico II of Napoli, Via Cinthia 6, 80126 Naples, Italy ,CEINGE Advanced Biotechnology, Via Gaetano Salvatore 486, 80126 Naples, Italy
| | - Alberto Alma
- grid.7605.40000 0001 2336 6580Department of Agricultural, Forest and Food Sciences, University of Torino, Largo Paolo Braccini 2, 10095 Grugliasco, Italy
| | - Patrizia Falabella
- grid.7367.50000000119391302Department of Sciences, University of Basilicata, Via dell’Ateneo Lucano 10, 85100 Potenza, Italy ,grid.7367.50000000119391302Spinoff XFlies S.R.L, University of Basilicata, Via dell’Ateneo Lucano 10, 85100 Potenza, Italy
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