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Gong ZX, Cheng FP, Xu JN, Yan WY, Wang ZL. The Juvenile-Hormone-Responsive Factor AmKr-h1 Regulates Caste Differentiation in Honey Bees. Biomolecules 2023; 13:1657. [PMID: 38002339 PMCID: PMC10669509 DOI: 10.3390/biom13111657] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2023] [Revised: 10/23/2023] [Accepted: 10/28/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Honey bees are typical model organisms for the study of caste differentiation, and the juvenile hormone (JH) is a crucial link in the regulatory network of caste differentiation in honey bees. To investigate the mechanism of JH-mediated caste differentiation, we analyzed the effect of the JH response gene AmKr-h1 on this process. We observed that AmKr-h1 expression levels were significantly higher in queen larvae than in worker larvae at the 48 h, 84 h, and 120 h larval stages, and were regulated by JH. Inhibiting AmKr-h1 expression in honey bee larvae using RNAi could lead to the development of larvae toward workers. We also analyzed the transcriptome changes in honey bee larvae after AmKr-h1 RNAi and identified 191 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and 682 differentially expressed alternative splicing events (DEASEs); of these, many were related to honey bee caste differentiation. Our results indicate that AmKr-h1 regulates caste differentiation in honey bees by acting as a JH-responsive gene.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhi-Xian Gong
- Honeybee Research Institute, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang 330045, China; (Z.-X.G.); (F.-P.C.); (J.-N.X.); (W.-Y.Y.)
- Jiangxi Province Key Laboratory of Honeybee Biology and Beekeeping, Nanchang 330045, China
| | - Fu-Ping Cheng
- Honeybee Research Institute, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang 330045, China; (Z.-X.G.); (F.-P.C.); (J.-N.X.); (W.-Y.Y.)
- Jiangxi Province Key Laboratory of Honeybee Biology and Beekeeping, Nanchang 330045, China
| | - Jia-Ning Xu
- Honeybee Research Institute, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang 330045, China; (Z.-X.G.); (F.-P.C.); (J.-N.X.); (W.-Y.Y.)
- Jiangxi Province Key Laboratory of Honeybee Biology and Beekeeping, Nanchang 330045, China
| | - Wei-Yu Yan
- Honeybee Research Institute, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang 330045, China; (Z.-X.G.); (F.-P.C.); (J.-N.X.); (W.-Y.Y.)
- Jiangxi Province Key Laboratory of Honeybee Biology and Beekeeping, Nanchang 330045, China
| | - Zi-Long Wang
- Honeybee Research Institute, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang 330045, China; (Z.-X.G.); (F.-P.C.); (J.-N.X.); (W.-Y.Y.)
- Jiangxi Province Key Laboratory of Honeybee Biology and Beekeeping, Nanchang 330045, China
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Franco M, Fassler R, Goldberg TS, Chole H, Herz Y, Woodard SH, Reichmann D, Bloch G. Substances in the mandibular glands mediate queen effects on larval development and colony organization in an annual bumble bee. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2302071120. [PMID: 37903277 PMCID: PMC10636365 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2302071120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2023] [Accepted: 09/06/2023] [Indexed: 11/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Social organization is commonly dynamic, with extreme examples in annual social insects, but little is known about the underlying signals and mechanisms. Bumble bee larvae with close contact to a queen do not differentiate into gynes, pupate at an earlier age, and are commonly smaller than siblings that do not contact a queen. We combined detailed observations, proteomics, microRNA transcriptomics, and gland removal surgery to study the regulation of brood development and division of labor in the annual social bumble bee Bombus terrestris. We found that regurgitates fed to larvae by queens and workers differ in their protein and microRNA composition. The proteome of the regurgitate overlaps significantly with that of the mandibular (MG) and hypopharyngeal glands (HPG), suggesting that these exocrine glands are sources of regurgitate proteins. The proteome of the MG and HPG, but not the salivary glands, differs between queens and workers, with caste-specificity preserved for the MG and regurgitate proteomes. Queens subjected to surgical removal of the MG showed normal behavior, brood care, and weight gain, but failed to shorten larval development. These findings suggest that substances in the queen MG are fed to larvae and influence their developmental program. We suggest that when workers emerge and contribute to larval feeding, they dilute the effects of the queen substances, until she can no longer manipulate the development of all larvae. Longer developmental duration may allow female larvae to differentiate into gynes rather than to workers, mediating the colony transition from the ergonomic to the reproductive phase.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maayan Franco
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, The A. Silberman Institute of Life Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem9190401, Israel
| | - Rosi Fassler
- Department of Biological Chemistry, The A. Silberman Institute of Life Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem9190401, Israel
| | - Tzvi S. Goldberg
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, The A. Silberman Institute of Life Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem9190401, Israel
| | - Hanna Chole
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, The A. Silberman Institute of Life Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem9190401, Israel
| | - Yogev Herz
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, The A. Silberman Institute of Life Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem9190401, Israel
- The Federmann Center for the Study of Rationality, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem9190401, Israel
| | - S. Hollis Woodard
- Department of Entomology, University of California, Riverside, CA92521
| | - Dana Reichmann
- Department of Biological Chemistry, The A. Silberman Institute of Life Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem9190401, Israel
- The Center for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem9190401, Israel
| | - Guy Bloch
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, The A. Silberman Institute of Life Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem9190401, Israel
- The Federmann Center for the Study of Rationality, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem9190401, Israel
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Xu W, Zhao M, Tang L, Ma R, He H. Chemical Components of Dufour's and Venom Glands in Camponotus japonicus (Hymenoptera, Formicidae). Insects 2023; 14:664. [PMID: 37504670 PMCID: PMC10380308 DOI: 10.3390/insects14070664] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2023] [Revised: 07/19/2023] [Accepted: 07/20/2023] [Indexed: 07/29/2023]
Abstract
The Dufour's and venom glands are the most developed glands connected to the female reproductive organs, playing important roles in defense, foraging, information exchange, and reproduction in ants. The main chemical secretions of these glands vary among species and even among castes of the same species. In this study, we analyzed the chemical components of the Dufour's and venom glands in different castes of Camponotus japonicus (original worker, minor worker, major worker, gyne, and queen) using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) with two sample processing methods (hexane solution and solid-phase microextraction). The secretion of the Dufour's gland is characterized by a high ratio of alkanes, with n-undecane being the dominant secretion in all castes except the original workers. The venom gland's secretion mainly includes alkanes, acids, ketones, and alcohols, with formic acid and n-undecane being the dominant components. Additionally, the chemical composition and proportion of the main components vary significantly among castes, which may be closely related to the division of labor in their social life. This study provides basic information to further understand the function of these two glands in the social life of ants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenjing Xu
- Key Laboratory of National Forestry and Grassland Administration on Management of Forest Bio-Disaster, College of Forestry, Northwest A & F University, Xianyang 712100, China
- Department of Entomology, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Mengqin Zhao
- Key Laboratory of National Forestry and Grassland Administration on Management of Forest Bio-Disaster, College of Forestry, Northwest A & F University, Xianyang 712100, China
| | - Lingxiao Tang
- Key Laboratory of National Forestry and Grassland Administration on Management of Forest Bio-Disaster, College of Forestry, Northwest A & F University, Xianyang 712100, China
| | - Ruoqing Ma
- Key Laboratory of National Forestry and Grassland Administration on Management of Forest Bio-Disaster, College of Forestry, Northwest A & F University, Xianyang 712100, China
| | - Hong He
- Key Laboratory of National Forestry and Grassland Administration on Management of Forest Bio-Disaster, College of Forestry, Northwest A & F University, Xianyang 712100, China
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Suzuki R, Masuoka Y, Suzuki RH, Maekawa K. Efficient RNA interference method during caste differentiation with hormone treatment in the termite Reticulitermes speratus (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae). Front Insect Sci 2023; 3:1188343. [PMID: 38469474 PMCID: PMC10926471 DOI: 10.3389/finsc.2023.1188343] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2023] [Accepted: 04/24/2023] [Indexed: 03/13/2024]
Abstract
Unveiling the proximate mechanism of caste differentiation is crucial for understanding insect social evolution, and gene function analysis is an important tool in this endeavor. The RNA interference (RNAi) technique is useful in termites, but its knockdown effects may differ among species. One of the most important model species in the field of termite sociogenomics is Reticulitermes speratus Kolbe (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae). Presoldier and worker differentiation of this species can be artificially induced by juvenile hormone and 20-hydroxyecdysone application, respectively. However, appropriate RNAi technique of genes expressed during caste differentiation has never been considered. To clarify this issue, first, we injected nine different volumes of nuclease-free water (NFW, 0-404.8 nL) into workers and found that survival and caste differentiation rates were strongly reduced by the application of the top three largest volumes. Second, we injected double-stranded (ds) RNA of ecdysone receptor homolog (RsEcR) (2.0 µg/151.8 nL NFW) into workers with hormone treatments. The expression levels of RsEcR were significantly reduced at 9 days after dsRNA injection. RsEcR RNAi strongly affected both molting events during presoldier and worker differentiation induced by hormone treatments. The present results highlight the need for caution regarding injection volumes for RNAi experiments using hormone treatments. We suggest that the injection of dsRNA solution (2 µg; approximately 100-200 nL) is suitable for RNAi experiments during caste differentiation induced by hormone application in R. speratus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryutaro Suzuki
- Graduate School of Science and Engineering, University of Toyama, Toyama, Japan
- Ishikawa Insect Museum, Hakusan, Japan
| | - Yudai Masuoka
- Graduate School of Science and Engineering, University of Toyama, Toyama, Japan
- Institute of Agrobiological Sciences, National Agriculture and Food Research Organization, Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Ryohei H. Suzuki
- Graduate School of Science and Engineering, University of Toyama, Toyama, Japan
- Research and Development Headquarters, Earth Corporation, Ltd. Ako, Japan
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Radford JM, Chen D, Chernyshova AM, Taylor C, Guoth AW, Wu T, Hill KA, Thompson GJ. Differential Selection on Caste-Associated Genes in a Subterranean Termite. Insects 2022; 13. [PMID: 35323522 DOI: 10.3390/insects13030224] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2021] [Revised: 02/18/2022] [Accepted: 02/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Analyzing the information-rich content of RNA can help uncover genetic events associated with social insect castes or other social polymorphisms. Here, we exploit a series of cDNA libraries previously derived from whole-body tissue of different castes as well as from three behaviourally distinct populations of the Eastern subterranean termite Reticulitermes flavipes. We found that the number (~0.5 M) of single nucleotide variants (SNVs) was roughly equal between nymph, worker and soldier caste libraries, but dN/dS (ratio of nonsynonymous to synonymous substitutions) analysis suggested that some of these variants confer a caste-specific advantage. Specifically, the dN/dS ratio was high (~4.3) for genes expressed in the defensively specialized soldier caste, relative to genes expressed by other castes (~1.7−1.8) and regardless of the North American population (Toronto, Raleigh, Boston) from which the castes were sampled. The populations, meanwhile, did show a large difference in SNV count but not in the manner expected from known demographic and behavioural differences; the highly invasive unicolonial population from Toronto was not the least diverse and did not show any other unique substitution patterns, suggesting any past bottleneck associated with invasion or with current unicoloniality has become obscured at the RNA level. Our study raises two important hypotheses relevant to termite sociobiology. First, the positive selection (dN/dS > 1) inferred for soldier-biased genes is presumably indirect and of the type mediated through kin selection, and second, the behavioural changes that accompany some social insect urban invasions (i.e., ‘unicoloniality’) may be detached from the loss-of-diversity expected from invasion bottlenecks.
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Tamaki C, Takata M, Matsuura K. The lose-to-win strategy of the weak: intraspecific parasitism via egg abduction in a termite. Biol Lett 2021; 17:20210540. [PMID: 34932926 PMCID: PMC8692029 DOI: 10.1098/rsbl.2021.0540] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2021] [Accepted: 11/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Predation by larger conspecifics poses a major threat to small juveniles in many animal species. However, in social insects, raids perpetrated by large colonies may provide smaller colonies with opportunities for parasitization. Herein, in the termite Reticulitermes speratus, we demonstrate that small incipient colonies parasitize large mature colonies through egg abduction when attacked by raiding conspecifics. We observed that the eggs of incipient colonies were brought into raiding colonies while their parents were killed during the attack. In this species, unmated females found new colonies with female-female (FF) cooperation, in addition to the typical monogamous colony foundation. Interestingly, the abducted eggs of FF pairs developed into nymphs (reproductive caste) in the raiding colonies, whereas the eggs of male-female (MF) pairs developed into workers (non-reproductive caste). Parthenogenetic eggs are known to be developmentally predisposed to becoming female reproductives owing to genomic imprinting in termites. This study demonstrates that the plundering of small colonies by larger conspecific colonies not only results in the extinction of the weaker colonies, but also serves as a strategy that incipient colonies use to obtain the reproductive position in large colonies by stealth. The results elucidate the diversity and complexity of inter-colonial interactions in social insects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chihiro Tamaki
- Laboratory of Insect Ecology, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Kitashirakawa Oiwakecho, Kyoto 606-8502, Japan
| | - Mamoru Takata
- Laboratory of Insect Ecology, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Kitashirakawa Oiwakecho, Kyoto 606-8502, Japan
| | - Kenji Matsuura
- Laboratory of Insect Ecology, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Kitashirakawa Oiwakecho, Kyoto 606-8502, Japan
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Pan LX, Li M, Zhao FY, Cheng FP, Wang ZL. Amsp3 may act upstream of Amdnmt3 in female caste differentiation in the honeybee (Apis mellifera). Insect Mol Biol 2021; 30:532-540. [PMID: 34219310 DOI: 10.1111/imb.12723] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2020] [Revised: 05/31/2021] [Accepted: 06/17/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
In honey bees, the process of producing two female castes, including queens and workers, is nutritionally controlled by differential feeding royal jelly to newly emerged larvae. Although they have almost identical genetic blueprints, these castes show striking differences in their morphologies, longevities and reproductive capabilities. DNA methyltransferase 3 (Amdnmt3) gene is involved in the regulatory network for honeybee caste differentiation. Due to the role of two zinc fingers containing transcription factors, SP1 and SP3 in controlling mammalian Dnmts, this study aimed to determine a similar interaction of SPs with Amdnmt3 in the honeybee. We confirmed that the promoter region of Amdnmt3 contained multiple predicted SP1/SP3 binding sites and then investigated the role of AmSP3 in queen-worker differentiation network. We observed that the expression level of Amsp3 was significantly higher in worker larvae than that in queen larvae at 48 h, 84 h and 120 h. Knockdown of Amsp3 expression by RNAi in worker larvae significantly reduced the expression level of Amdnmt3 and caused morphological changes in adult bees towards a queen-like phenotype. However, the expression levels of Amsp3 and Amdnmt3 were repressed by juvenile hormone (JH). Our results suggest that AmSP3 is an important part of the queen-worker differentiation network and supports the role of Amdnmt3 in determining the phenotypic outcome of developing larvae.
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Affiliation(s)
- L-X Pan
- Honeybee Research Institute, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, 330045, China
- Jiangxi Province Key Laboratory of Honeybee Biology and Beekeeping, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, 330045, China
| | - M Li
- Honeybee Research Institute, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, 330045, China
- Jiangxi Province Key Laboratory of Honeybee Biology and Beekeeping, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, 330045, China
| | - F-Y Zhao
- Honeybee Research Institute, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, 330045, China
- Jiangxi Province Key Laboratory of Honeybee Biology and Beekeeping, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, 330045, China
| | - F-P Cheng
- Honeybee Research Institute, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, 330045, China
- Jiangxi Province Key Laboratory of Honeybee Biology and Beekeeping, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, 330045, China
| | - Z-L Wang
- Honeybee Research Institute, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, 330045, China
- Jiangxi Province Key Laboratory of Honeybee Biology and Beekeeping, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, 330045, China
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Chen WF, Wang Y, Zhang WX, Liu ZG, Xu BH, Wang HF. Methionine as a methyl donor regulates caste differentiation in the European honey bee (Apis mellifera). Insect Sci 2021; 28:746-756. [PMID: 32277579 DOI: 10.1111/1744-7917.12788] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2019] [Revised: 03/31/2020] [Accepted: 03/31/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Nutrition contributes to honey bee caste differentiation, but the role of individual nutrients is still unclear. Most essential amino acid contents, except that of methionine (Met), are greater in royal jelly than worker jelly. After ∼3.5 d, the Met content in the latter was slightly greater than in the former. Met is the major raw material used in the synthesis of S-adenosyl-L-methionine, an active methyl donor for DNA methylation, which is an epigenetic driver of caste differentiation. Here, we tested whether Met regulates caste differentiation in honey bees by determining its effects on the caste development of bees receiving four diets: the basic, basic + 0.2% Met, basic + 0.2% Met + 20 mg/kg 5-azacytidine, and basic + 20 mg/kg 5-azacytidine. The presence of Met decreased the adult bee body length and the numbers of ovarioles, indicating that Met may direct the development of female larvae toward worker bees. The upregulated expression of SAMS, Dnmt1, and Dnmt3 caused by Met exposure in 4-d-old larvae indicated that the worker-inductive effects of Met may occur through the promotion of DNA methylation. We investigated the co-effects of Met and glucose on bee development, and found that the effects of an increased glucose level on the number of ovarioles and body length did not strengthen the worker-inductive effects caused by Met. Our results contribute to caste development theory and suggest that Met-as a methyl donor-plays a regulatory, but not decisive, role in caste differentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wen-Feng Chen
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, Shandong Province, China
| | - Ying Wang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, Shandong Province, China
| | - Wei-Xing Zhang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, Shandong Province, China
| | - Zhen-Guo Liu
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, Shandong Province, China
| | - Bao-Hua Xu
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, Shandong Province, China
| | - Hong-Fang Wang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, Shandong Province, China
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10
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Ye C, Song Z, Wu T, Zhang W, Saba NU, Xing L, Su X. Endocuticle is involved in caste differentiation of the lower termite. Curr Zool 2021; 67:489-499. [PMID: 34616947 PMCID: PMC8489109 DOI: 10.1093/cz/zoab005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2020] [Accepted: 01/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Caste differentiation in termites is one of the most conspicuous examples of facultative polyphenism in animals. It is clear that specific cuticular formation occurs in hard exocuticles during caste differentiation. However, the developmental pattern of the soft endocuticle in the differentiation pathways of castes is unknown. To reveal whether the endocuticle is involved in caste differentiation, we compared the exocuticle and endocuticle thickness of individuals in 2 pathways (nymph line and worker line) of caste differentiation in the termite Reticulitermes aculabialis. The endocuticle protein genes were identified by transcriptome analysis and the expression patterns of these genes were confirmed in caste differentiation. We found that the endocuticle structure showed dynamic changes in 2 pathways, and the first difference in endocuticle structure occurred after larvae differentiation bifurcated into workers and nymphs. The thinning of the endocuticle was a significant event from nymphs developing into alates with the thickest exocuticle and thinnest endocuticle. The thickest endocuticle layers were found in the heads of the workers and the ultrastructure of the endocuticle in the heads was more complex than that in the thorax–abdomens. Six endocuticle protein genes were identified and annotated as endocuticle structural glycoproteins SgAbd-2, SgAbd-9, and Abd-5. The expression levels of endocuticle protein genes changed dramatically during caste development and the expression levels in neotenic reproductives (secondary reproductives) were significantly higher than those in alates (primary reproductives). These results reveal the roles of endocuticles in caste differentiation and adaptation to the environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chenxu Ye
- Shaanxi Key Laboratory for Animal Conservation, Northwest University, Xi'an 710069, China.,College of Life Sciences, Northwest University, Xi'an 710069, China
| | - Zhuanzhuan Song
- College of Life Sciences, Northwest University, Xi'an 710069, China
| | - Taoyu Wu
- College of Life Sciences, Northwest University, Xi'an 710069, China
| | - Wenxiu Zhang
- College of Life Sciences, Northwest University, Xi'an 710069, China
| | - Noor Us Saba
- Shaanxi Key Laboratory for Animal Conservation, Northwest University, Xi'an 710069, China.,College of Life Sciences, Northwest University, Xi'an 710069, China
| | - Lianxi Xing
- Shaanxi Key Laboratory for Animal Conservation, Northwest University, Xi'an 710069, China.,College of Life Sciences, Northwest University, Xi'an 710069, China
| | - Xiaohong Su
- Shaanxi Key Laboratory for Animal Conservation, Northwest University, Xi'an 710069, China.,College of Life Sciences, Northwest University, Xi'an 710069, China
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11
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Masuoka Y, Nuibe K, Hayase N, Oka T, Maekawa K. Reproductive Soldier Development Is Controlled by Direct Physical Interactions with Reproductive and Soldier Termites. Insects 2021; 12:76. [PMID: 33467647 DOI: 10.3390/insects12010076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2020] [Revised: 01/13/2021] [Accepted: 01/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Simple Summary Generally, in termites, the soldier caste is sterile, and their reproductive organ formation is suppressed. However, in some primitive taxa, neotenic reproductives with soldier-like mandibles, called reproductive soldiers, occasionally appear in the incipient colony. Our first step in understanding the developmental mechanism of this unique caste was to establish efficient conditions to induce reproductive soldiers in Zootermopsis nevadensis. Removing both the king and soldiers from an incipient colony strongly stimulated the formation of male reproductive soldiers, which possessed soldier-like mandibles and developed testes. Similarly, high differentiation rates of male reproductive soldiers were observed after king-and-soldier separation treatment using wire mesh. However, no male reproductive soldiers were produced without direct interaction with the queen. These results suggest that reproductive soldier development might be initiated and controlled by direct physical interactions with both reproductives (the king and queen) and soldiers. Abstract In eusocial insects (e.g., ants, bees, and termites), the roles of different castes are assigned to different individuals. These castes possess unique phenotypes that are specialized for specific tasks. The acquisition of sterile individuals with specific roles is considered a requirement for social evolution. In termites, the soldier is a sterile caste. In primitive taxa (family Archotermopsidae and Stolotermitidae), however, secondary reproductives (neotenic reproductives) with their mandibles developed into weapons (so-called reproductive soldiers, also termed as soldier-headed reproductives or soldier neotenics) have been reported. To understand the developmental mechanism of this unique caste, it is necessary to understand the environmental cues and developmental processes of reproductive soldiers under natural conditions. Here, we established efficient conditions to induce reproductive soldiers in Zootermopsis nevadensis. Male reproductive soldiers frequently developed after the removal of both the king and soldiers from an incipient colony. Similarly, high differentiation rates of male reproductive soldiers were observed after king-and-soldier separation treatment using wire mesh. However, no male reproductive soldiers were produced without direct interaction with the queen. These results suggest that male reproductive soldier development is repressed by direct physical interactions with both the king and soldiers and facilitated by direct physical interaction with the queen.
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12
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Wang M, Xiao Y, Li Y, Wang X, Qi S, Wang Y, Zhao L, Wang K, Peng W, Luo GZ, Xue X, Jia G, Wu L. RNA m 6A Modification Functions in Larval Development and Caste Differentiation in Honeybee (Apis mellifera). Cell Rep 2021; 34:108580. [PMID: 33406439 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2020.108580] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2019] [Revised: 08/08/2020] [Accepted: 12/09/2020] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Genetically identical female honeybee larvae with different diets develop into sterile workers or fertile queens. It remains unknown whether the reversible RNA N6-methyladenosine (m6A) mark functionally impact this "caste differentiation." Here, we profile the transcriptome-wide m6A methylome of honeybee queen and worker larvae at three instar stages and discover that m6A methylation dynamics are altered by differential feeding. Multiple methylome comparisons show an obvious increase in m6A marks during larval development and reveal a negative correlation between gene expression and m6A methylation. Notably, we find that worker larvae contain more hypermethylated m6A peaks than do queen larvae, and many caste-differentiation-related transcripts are differentially methylated. Chemical suppression of m6A methylation in worker larvae by 3-deazaadenosine (DAA) reduces overall m6A methylation levels and triggers worker larvae to develop queen caste features. Thus, our study demonstrates that m6A functionally impacts caste differentiation and larval development, yet it does not exclude potential contributions from other factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miao Wang
- Institute of Apicultural Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, 100093 Beijing, China
| | - Yu Xiao
- Synthetic and Functional Biomolecules Center, Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Chemistry and Molecular Engineering of Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University, 100871 Beijing, China
| | - Yan Li
- MOE Key Laboratory of Gene Function and Regulation, State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, 510275 Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiaoying Wang
- Institute of Apicultural Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, 100093 Beijing, China
| | - Suzhen Qi
- Institute of Apicultural Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, 100093 Beijing, China
| | - Ye Wang
- Synthetic and Functional Biomolecules Center, Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Chemistry and Molecular Engineering of Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University, 100871 Beijing, China
| | - Liuwei Zhao
- Institute of Apicultural Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, 100093 Beijing, China
| | - Kai Wang
- Institute of Apicultural Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, 100093 Beijing, China
| | - Wenjun Peng
- Institute of Apicultural Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, 100093 Beijing, China
| | - Guan-Zheng Luo
- MOE Key Laboratory of Gene Function and Regulation, State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, 510275 Guangzhou, China.
| | - Xiaofeng Xue
- Institute of Apicultural Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, 100093 Beijing, China.
| | - Guifang Jia
- Synthetic and Functional Biomolecules Center, Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Chemistry and Molecular Engineering of Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University, 100871 Beijing, China.
| | - Liming Wu
- Institute of Apicultural Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, 100093 Beijing, China.
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13
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Yi Y, Liu YB, Barron AB, Zeng ZJ. Transcriptomic, Morphological, and Developmental Comparison of Adult Honey Bee Queens (Apis mellifera) Reared From Eggs or Worker Larvae of Differing Ages. J Econ Entomol 2020; 113:2581-2587. [PMID: 32865208 DOI: 10.1093/jee/toaa188] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Queens and workers are very distinct phenotypes that develop from the same genome. Larvae from worker cells up to 3.5 d old can be transferred to larger queen cells and will subsequently be reared as queens and develop into functional queens. This has become a very popular queen rearing practice in contemporary apiculture. Here we used RNA-Seq to study the consequences of rearing queens from transplanted worker larvae on the transcriptome of the adult queens. We found that queens reared from transferred older larvae developed slower, weighted less, and had fewer ovarioles than queens reared from transferred eggs, indicating queens were cryptically intercaste. RNA-Seq analysis revealed differentially expressed genes between queens reared from transferred larvae compared with queens reared from transferred eggs: the older the larvae transferred, the greater the number of differentially expressed genes. Many of the differentially expressed genes had functions related to reproduction, longevity, immunity, or metabolism, suggesting that the health and long-term viability of queens was compromised. Our finds verify the previous studies that adult queens reared from older transferred larvae were of lower quality than queens reared from transferred eggs or younger larvae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yao Yi
- Honeybee Research Institute, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, P. R. of China
- The Second Affiliated Hospital of Jiangxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanchang, Jiangxi, P. R. of China
| | - Yi Bo Liu
- Honeybee Research Institute, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, P. R. of China
| | - Andrew B Barron
- Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, North Ryde, NSW, Australia
| | - Zhi Jiang Zeng
- Honeybee Research Institute, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, P. R. of China
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14
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da Silva IB, Haifig I, Vargo EL, Casarin FE, da Mota ML, Lima JT, Costa-Leonardo AM. Ergatoid reproductives in the Neotropical termite Nasutitermes aquilinus (Holmgren) (Blattaria: Isoptera: Termitidae): developmental origin, fecundity, and genetics. Insect Sci 2020; 27:1322-1333. [PMID: 31553524 DOI: 10.1111/1744-7917.12727] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2019] [Revised: 09/11/2019] [Accepted: 09/19/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Termite colonies are usually headed by primary reproductives, which establish nests during the swarming season. However, secondary reproductives may develop in some species and become supplementary or replacement breeders, extending colony lifespan. Here we investigate the developmental origin, fecundity and genetic characterization of ergatoid reproductives in the Neotropical termite Nasutitermes aquilinus (Holmgren), using morphometrical and histological techniques, five microsatellite loci and the COI mitochondrial DNA. Twelve measurements performed on 208 apterous individuals of N. aquilinus revealed 10 groups, including ergatoid females, which developed from major workers through two successive molts, and were characterized by the presence of imaginal features such as eyes and wing buds. The differentiation of these features was correlated to physogastric development in these ergatoids. Histology revealed oocytes in all maturation stages in worker-derived reproductives of N. aquilinus, presence of nonflagellate spermatozoa inside the spermatheca, and royal fat body. Thus, ergatoid reproductives were reproductively functional. According to the genotypes of 221 individuals from 11 nests, and mitochondrial haplotypes of 43 ergatoids, 73% of the colonies were simple families, whereas 27% were extended families. Despite the occurrence of related reproductives, low inbreeding rates were detected within and among colonies. Such values could be explained given that sib mating itself cannot result in a higher inbreeding rate but depend on several factors discussed in detail. This is the first study to investigate the genetic structure of termite colonies influenced by the development of ergatoids, and further investigations are encouraged to understand the influence of these reproductives on colony lifespan.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iago Bueno da Silva
- Laboratório de Cupins, Departamento de Biologia, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Estadual Paulista-UNESP, Rio Claro, SP, Brazil
| | - Ives Haifig
- Centro de Ciências Naturais e Humanas, Universidade Federal do ABC, São Bernardo do Campo, SP, Brazil
| | - Edward L Vargo
- Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA
| | - Fabiana Elaine Casarin
- Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de São Paulo-UNIFESP, Diadema, SP, Brazil
| | - Marcelo Luiz da Mota
- Instituto de Ciências Agrárias, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, UFU, Monte Carmelo, MG, Brazil
| | - Juliana Toledo Lima
- Centro de Estudos em Recursos Naturais, Universidade Estadual de Mato Grosso do Sul, Dourados, MS, Brazil
| | - Ana Maria Costa-Leonardo
- Laboratório de Cupins, Departamento de Biologia, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Estadual Paulista-UNESP, Rio Claro, SP, Brazil
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15
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Nozaki T, Matsuura K. Evolutionary relationship of fat body endoreduplication and queen fecundity in termites. Ecol Evol 2019; 9:11684-11694. [PMID: 31695878 PMCID: PMC6822035 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.5664] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2019] [Revised: 08/24/2019] [Accepted: 08/26/2019] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Endoreduplication or nuclear genome replication without cell division is widely observed in the metabolically active tissues of plants and animals. The fat body cells of adult female insects produce abundant yolk proteins and become polyploid, which is assumed to accelerate egg production. Recently, it was reported that in termites, endopolyploidy in the fat body occurs only in queens but not in the other females; however, the relationship between the fecundity and ploidy level in the fat body remains unclear. Termite queens exhibit a huge variation in their egg-producing capacity among different species; queens in the species with a foraging lifestyle, in which workers leave the nest to forage outside, are much more fecund than those in the species living in a single piece of wood. In this study, we conducted ploidy analyses on three foragings and three wood-dwelling termites via flow cytometry. In all the species, the fat body of queens contained significantly more polyploid cells than that of other nonreproductive females, considering their body size effect. However, the male fat body, which is not involved in yolk production, did not show consistency in polyploid cell numbers among the species studied. Moreover, highly fecund queens in foraging termites exhibit higher levels of endopolyploidy in their fat body than those with less fecundity in wood-dwelling termites. These results suggest that endopolyploidy in the fat body of termite queens can boost their egg production, and the level of endopolyploidy in their fat body is linked to their fecundity. Our study provides a novel insight into the evolutionary relationship between endoreduplication and caste specialization in social insects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomonari Nozaki
- Laboratory of Insect EcologyGraduate School of AgricultureKyoto UniversityKyotoJapan
- Center for the Development of New Model OrganismsNational Institute for Basic BiologyOkazakiJapan
| | - Kenji Matsuura
- Laboratory of Insect EcologyGraduate School of AgricultureKyoto UniversityKyotoJapan
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16
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He XJ, Jiang WJ, Zhou M, Barron AB, Zeng ZJ. A comparison of honeybee (Apis mellifera) queen, worker and drone larvae by RNA-Seq. Insect Sci 2019; 26:499-509. [PMID: 29110379 DOI: 10.1111/1744-7917.12557] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2017] [Revised: 09/08/2017] [Accepted: 09/28/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Honeybees (Apis mellifera) have haplodiploid sex determination: males develop from unfertilized eggs and females develop from fertilized ones. The differences in larval food also determine the development of females. Here we compared the total somatic gene expression profiles of 2-day and 4-day-old drone, queen and worker larvae by RNA-Seq. The results from a co-expression network analysis on all expressed genes showed that 2-day-old drone and worker larvae were closer in gene expression profiles than 2-day-old queen larvae. This indicated that for young larvae (2-day-old) environmental factors such as larval diet have a greater effect on gene expression profiles than ploidy or sex determination. Drones had the most distinct gene expression profiles at the 4-day larval stage, suggesting that haploidy, or sex dramatically affects the gene expression of honeybee larvae. Drone larvae showed fewer differences in gene expression profiles at the 2-day and 4-day time points than the worker and queen larval comparisons (598 against 1190 and 1181), suggesting a different pattern of gene expression regulation during the larval development of haploid males compared to diploid females. This study indicates that early in development the queen caste has the most distinct gene expression profile, perhaps reflecting the very rapid growth and morphological specialization of this caste compared to workers and drones. Later in development the haploid male drones have the most distinct gene expression profile, perhaps reflecting the influence of ploidy or sex determination on gene expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xu-Jiang He
- Honeybee Research Institute, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, China
| | - Wu-Jun Jiang
- Honeybee Research Institute, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, China
| | - Mi Zhou
- Biomarker Technologies Co., Ltd., Beijing, China
| | - Andrew B Barron
- Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, North Ryde, NSW, Australia
| | - Zhi-Jiang Zeng
- Honeybee Research Institute, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, China
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17
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Yaguchi H, Suzuki R, Matsunami M, Shigenobu S, Maekawa K. Transcriptomic changes during caste development through social interactions in the termite Zootermopsis nevadensis. Ecol Evol 2019; 9:3446-3456. [PMID: 30962904 PMCID: PMC6434549 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.4976] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2018] [Revised: 01/16/2019] [Accepted: 01/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
One of the most striking examples of phenotypic plasticity is the different phenotypes (i.e., castes) within a same nest of social insects. Castes usually derive from a single genotype initially by receiving social cues among individuals during development. Specific gene expression changes may be involved in caste differentiation, and thus, the regulatory mechanism of these changes should be clarified in order to understand social maintenance and evolution. The damp-wood termite Zootermopsis nevadensis is one of the most important model termite species, due to not only the availability of genomic, transcriptomic, and epigenomic information but also evidence that soldier- and worker-destined individuals can be identified in natural conditions. Given that the nutritional intakes via social interactions are crucial for caste differentiation in this species, there is a possibility that transcriptomic changes are influenced by the nutritional difference among these individuals. Here, whole body RNA-seq analysis of 3rd-instar larvae with biological replications and Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes enrichment analyses were conducted. We found the drastic expression differences during caste developments between soldier- and worker-destined individuals. The results indicated that there are several key signaling pathways responsible for caste formations, which are involved in developments and social interactions. Particularly, the nutritional sensitive signaling was upregulated in soldier-destined individuals, while some metabolic pathways were identified in worker-destined individuals. These bioinformatic data obtained should be utilized to examine the molecular mechanisms of caste determination in social insects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hajime Yaguchi
- Graduate School of Science and EngineeringUniversity of ToyamaToyamaJapan
- Tropical Biosphere Research CenterUniversity of the RyukyusNishiharaJapan
| | - Ryutaro Suzuki
- Graduate School of Science and EngineeringUniversity of ToyamaToyamaJapan
| | | | - Shuji Shigenobu
- Functional Genomics FacilityNational Institute for Basic BiologyOkazakiJapan
| | - Kiyoto Maekawa
- Graduate School of Science and EngineeringUniversity of ToyamaToyamaJapan
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18
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Yin L, Wang K, Niu L, Zhang H, Chen Y, Ji T, Chen G. Uncovering the Changing Gene Expression Profile of Honeybee ( Apis mellifera) Worker Larvae Transplanted to Queen Cells. Front Genet 2018; 9:416. [PMID: 30405683 PMCID: PMC6207841 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2018.00416] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2018] [Accepted: 09/06/2018] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
The reproductive division of labor, based on caste differentiation in social insects, is of great significance in evolution. Generally, a healthy bee colony consists of a queen and numerous workers and drones. Despite being genetically identical, the queen and workers exhibit striking differences in morphology, behavior, and lifespan. The fertilized eggs and larvae selectively develop into queen and worker bees depending on the local nutrition and environment. Bee worker larvae that are transplanted within 3 days of age to queen cells of a bee colony can develop into queens with mature ovaries. This phenomenon is important to understand the regulatory mechanisms of caste differentiation. In this study, we transplanted worker larvae (Apis mellifera) at the age of 1 (L1), 2 (L2), and 3 days (L3) into queen cells until the age of 4 days. Subsequently, genetic changes in these larvae were evaluated. The results revealed that the number of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in L1 vs. L3 was more than that in L1 vs. L2. Furthermore, many of the genes that were downregulated are mostly involved in metabolism, body development, reproductive ability, and longevity, indicating that these functions decreased with the age of transplantation of the larvae. Moreover, these functions may be critical for worker larvae to undergo the developmental path to become queens. We also found that the DEGs of L1 vs. L2 and L1 vs. L3 were enriched in the MAPK, FoxO, mTOR, Wnt, TGF-beta Hedgehog Toll and Imd, and Hippo signaling pathways. Gene ontology analysis indicated that some genes are simultaneously involved in different biological pathways; through these genes, the pathways formed a mutual regulatory network. Casein kinase 1 (CK 1) was predicted to participate in the FoxO, Wnt, Hedgehog, and Hippo signaling pathways. The results suggest that these pathways cross talked through the network to modify the development of larvae and that CK 1 is an important liaison. The results provide valuable information regarding the regulatory mechanism of environmental factors affecting queen development, thus, amplifying the understanding of caste differentiation in bees.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ling Yin
- Jiangsu Agri-animal Husbandry Vocational College, Taizhou, China
| | - Kang Wang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Lin Niu
- Jiangsu Agri-animal Husbandry Vocational College, Taizhou, China
| | - Huanxin Zhang
- Jiangsu Agri-animal Husbandry Vocational College, Taizhou, China
| | - Yuyong Chen
- Jiangsu Agri-animal Husbandry Vocational College, Taizhou, China
| | - Ting Ji
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Guohong Chen
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
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19
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Yaguchi H, Shigenobu S, Hayashi Y, Miyazaki S, Toga K, Masuoka Y, Maekawa K. A lipocalin protein, Neural Lazarillo, is key to social interactions that promote termite soldier differentiation. Proc Biol Sci 2018; 285:rspb.2018.0707. [PMID: 30051867 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2018.0707] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2018] [Accepted: 07/05/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Social communication among castes is a crucial component of insect societies. However, the genes involved in soldier determination through the regulation of inter-individual interactions are largely unknown. In an incipient colony of the damp-wood termite Zootermopsis nevadensis, the first larva to develop into a third instar always differentiates into a soldier via frequent trophallactic feeding from the reproductives. Here, by performing RNA-seq analysis of third instar larvae, a homologue of Neural Lazarillo (named ZnNLaz1) was found to be the most differentially expressed gene in these soldier-destined larvae, compared with worker-destined larvae. This gene encodes a lipocalin protein related to the transport of small hydrophobic molecules. RNAi-induced knockdown of ZnNLaz1 significantly inhibited trophallactic interactions with the queen and decreased the soldier differentiation rates. This protein is localized in the gut, particularly in the internal wall, of soldier-destined larvae, suggesting that it is involved in the integration of social signals from the queen through frequent trophallactic behaviours. Based on molecular phylogenetic analysis, we suggest that a novel function of termite NLaz1 has contributed to social evolution from the cockroach ancestors of termites. These results indicated that a high larval NLaz1 expression is crucial for soldier determination through social communication in termites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hajime Yaguchi
- Graduate School of Science and Engineering, University of Toyama, Toyama, Japan.,Tropical Biosphere Research Center, University of the Ryukyus, Nishihara, Japan
| | - Shuji Shigenobu
- NIBB Core Research Facilities, National Institute for Basic Biology, Okazaki, Japan
| | | | - Satoshi Miyazaki
- Department of Agri-Production Sciences, Tamagawa University, Machida, Japan
| | - Kouhei Toga
- Department of Biosciences, College of Humanities and Sciences, Nihon University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yudai Masuoka
- Graduate School of Science and Engineering, University of Toyama, Toyama, Japan.,Institute of Agrobiological Sciences, National Agriculture and Food Research Organization, Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Kiyoto Maekawa
- Graduate School of Science and Engineering, University of Toyama, Toyama, Japan
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20
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Matsuura K, Mizumoto N, Kobayashi K, Nozaki T, Fujita T, Yashiro T, Fuchikawa T, Mitaka Y, Vargo EL. A Genomic Imprinting Model of Termite Caste Determination: Not Genetic but Epigenetic Inheritance Influences Offspring Caste Fate. Am Nat 2018; 191:677-690. [PMID: 29750562 DOI: 10.1086/697238] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
Eusocial insects exhibit the most striking example of phenotypic plasticity. There has been a long controversy over the factors determining caste development of individuals in social insects. Here we demonstrate that parental phenotypes influence the social status of offspring not through genetic inheritance but through genomic imprinting in termites. Our extensive field survey and genetic analysis of the termite Reticulitermes speratus show that its breeding system is inconsistent with a genetic caste determination model. We therefore developed a genomic imprinting model, in which queen- and king-specific epigenetic marks antagonistically influence sexual development of offspring. The model accounts for all known empirical data on caste differentiation of R. speratus and other related species. By conducting colony-founding experiments and additively incorporating relevant socio-environmental factors into our genomic imprinting model, we show the relative importance of genomic imprinting and environmental factors in caste determination. The idea of epigenetic inheritance of sexual phenotypes solves the puzzle of why parthenogenetically produced daughters carrying only maternal chromosomes exclusively develop into queens and why parental phenotypes (nymph- or worker-derived reproductives) strongly influence caste differentiation of offspring. According to our model, the worker caste is seen as a "neuter" caste whose sexual development is suppressed due to counterbalanced maternal and paternal imprinting and opens new avenues for understanding the evolution of caste systems in social insects.
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21
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Jedlička P, Ernst UR, Votavová A, Hanus R, Valterová I. Gene Expression Dynamics in Major Endocrine Regulatory Pathways along the Transition from Solitary to Social Life in a Bumblebee, Bombus terrestris. Front Physiol 2016; 7:574. [PMID: 27932998 PMCID: PMC5121236 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2016.00574] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2016] [Accepted: 11/10/2016] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Understanding the social evolution leading to insect eusociality requires, among other, a detailed insight into endocrine regulatory mechanisms that have been co-opted from solitary ancestors to play new roles in the complex life histories of eusocial species. Bumblebees represent well-suited models of a relatively primitive social organization standing on the mid-way to highly advanced eusociality and their queens undergo both, a solitary and a social phase, separated by winter diapause. In the present paper, we characterize the gene expression levels of major endocrine regulatory pathways across tissues, sexes, and life-stages of the buff-tailed bumblebee, Bombus terrestris, with special emphasis on critical stages of the queen's transition from solitary to social life. We focused on fundamental genes of three pathways: (1) Forkhead box protein O and insulin/insulin-like signaling, (2) Juvenile hormone (JH) signaling, and (3) Adipokinetic hormone signaling. Virgin queens were distinguished by higher expression of forkhead box protein O and downregulated insulin-like peptides and JH signaling, indicated by low expression of methyl farnesoate epoxidase (MFE) and transcription factor Krüppel homolog 1 (Kr-h1). Diapausing queens showed the expected downregulation of JH signaling in terms of low MFE and vitellogenin (Vg) expressions, but an unexpectedly high expression of Kr-h1. By contrast, reproducing queens revealed an upregulation of MFE and Vg together with insulin signaling. Surprisingly, the insulin growth factor 1 (IGF-1) turned out to be a queen-specific hormone. Workers exhibited an expression pattern of MFE and Vg similar to that of reproducing queens. Males were characterized by high Kr-h1 expression and low Vg level. The tissue comparison unveiled an unexpected resemblance between the fat body and hypopharyngeal glands across all investigated genes, sexes, and life stages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pavel Jedlička
- Department of Chemistry of Social Insects, The Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Czech Academy of Sciences Prague, Czechia
| | - Ulrich R Ernst
- Department of Chemistry of Social Insects, The Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Czech Academy of Sciences Prague, Czechia
| | | | - Robert Hanus
- Department of Chemistry of Social Insects, The Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Czech Academy of Sciences Prague, Czechia
| | - Irena Valterová
- Research Group of Infochemicals, The Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Czech Academy of Sciences Prague, Czechia
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22
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Amsalem E, Galbraith DA, Cnaani J, Teal PEA, Grozinger CM. Conservation and modification of genetic and physiological toolkits underpinning diapause in bumble bee queens. Mol Ecol 2015; 24:5596-615. [PMID: 26453894 DOI: 10.1111/mec.13410] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2015] [Revised: 10/02/2015] [Accepted: 10/06/2015] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
Diapause is the key adaptation allowing insects to survive unfavourable conditions and inhabit an array of environments. Physiological changes during diapause are largely conserved across species and are hypothesized to be regulated by a conserved suite of genes (a 'toolkit'). Furthermore, it is hypothesized that in social insects, this toolkit was co-opted to mediate caste differentiation between long-lived, reproductive, diapause-capable queens and short-lived, sterile workers. Using Bombus terrestris queens, we examined the physiological and transcriptomic changes associated with diapause and CO2 treatment, which causes queens to bypass diapause. We performed comparative analyses with genes previously identified to be associated with diapause in the Dipteran Sarcophaga crassipalpis and with caste differentiation in bumble bees. As in Diptera, diapause in bumble bees is associated with physiological and transcriptional changes related to nutrient storage, stress resistance and core metabolic pathways. There is a significant overlap, both at the level of transcript and gene ontology, between the genetic mechanisms mediating diapause in B. terrestris and S. crassipalpis, reaffirming the existence of a conserved insect diapause genetic toolkit. However, a substantial proportion (10%) of the differentially regulated transcripts in diapausing queens have no clear orthologs in other species, and key players regulating diapause in Diptera (juvenile hormone and vitellogenin) appear to have distinct functions in bumble bees. We also found a substantial overlap between genes related to caste determination and diapause in bumble bees. Thus, our studies demonstrate an intriguing interplay between pathways underpinning adaptation to environmental extremes and the evolution of sociality in insects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Etya Amsalem
- Department of Entomology, Center for Pollinator Research, Center for Chemical Ecology, Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA
| | - David A Galbraith
- Department of Entomology, Center for Pollinator Research, Center for Chemical Ecology, Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA
| | | | - Peter E A Teal
- Chemistry Research Unit, US Department of Agriculture, 1600-1700 SW, 23rd Drive, Gainesville, FL, 32608, USA
| | - Christina M Grozinger
- Department of Entomology, Center for Pollinator Research, Center for Chemical Ecology, Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA
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23
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Danneels EL, Van Vaerenbergh M, Debyser G, Devreese B, de Graaf DC. Honeybee venom proteome profile of queens and winter bees as determined by a mass spectrometric approach. Toxins (Basel) 2015; 7:4468-83. [PMID: 26529016 PMCID: PMC4663515 DOI: 10.3390/toxins7114468] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2015] [Revised: 10/20/2015] [Accepted: 10/22/2015] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Venoms of invertebrates contain an enormous diversity of proteins, peptides, and other classes of substances. Insect venoms are characterized by a large interspecific variation resulting in extended lists of venom compounds. The venom composition of several hymenopterans also shows different intraspecific variation. For instance, venom from different honeybee castes, more specifically queens and workers, shows quantitative and qualitative variation, while the environment, like seasonal changes, also proves to be an important factor. The present study aimed at an in-depth analysis of the intraspecific variation in the honeybee venom proteome. In summer workers, the recent list of venom proteins resulted from merging combinatorial peptide ligand library sample pretreatment and targeted tandem mass spectrometry realized with a Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometer (FT-ICR MS/MS). Now, the same technique was used to determine the venom proteome of queens and winter bees, enabling us to compare it with that of summer bees. In total, 34 putative venom toxins were found, of which two were never described in honeybee venoms before. Venom from winter workers did not contain toxins that were not present in queens or summer workers, while winter worker venom lacked the allergen Api m 12, also known as vitellogenin. Venom from queen bees, on the other hand, was lacking six of the 34 venom toxins compared to worker bees, while it contained two new venom toxins, in particularly serine proteinase stubble and antithrombin-III. Although people are hardly stung by honeybees during winter or by queen bees, these newly identified toxins should be taken into account in the characterization of a putative allergic response against Apis mellifera stings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ellen L Danneels
- Laboratory of Molecular Entomology and Bee Pathology, Ghent University, Krijgslaan 281 S2, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium.
| | - Matthias Van Vaerenbergh
- Laboratory of Molecular Entomology and Bee Pathology, Ghent University, Krijgslaan 281 S2, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium.
| | - Griet Debyser
- Laboratory of Protein Biochemistry and Biomolecular Engineering, Ghent University, K.L. Ledeganckstraat 35, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium.
| | - Bart Devreese
- Laboratory of Protein Biochemistry and Biomolecular Engineering, Ghent University, K.L. Ledeganckstraat 35, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium.
| | - Dirk C de Graaf
- Laboratory of Molecular Entomology and Bee Pathology, Ghent University, Krijgslaan 281 S2, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium.
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Saiki R, Gotoh H, Toga K, Miura T, Maekawa K. High juvenile hormone titre and abdominal activation of JH signalling may induce reproduction of termite neotenics. Insect Mol Biol 2015; 24:432-441. [PMID: 25847681 DOI: 10.1111/imb.12169] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2014] [Revised: 01/30/2015] [Accepted: 02/03/2015] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Termite castes are a key example of polyphenism, in which reproductive division of labour is clearly seen in colonies. The reproductive castes in termites include primary and neotenic reproductives; primary reproductives found a new colony whereas neotenics succeed them in the reproductive role when the primary reproductives die or become senescent. Neotenics usually differentiate from nymphs or workers by developing functional gonads while retaining juvenile characteristics; however, the developmental mechanism during neotenic differentiation remains poorly understood. Juvenile hormone (JH) mediates a number of aspects of developmental regulation in caste differentiation in termites. In the present study we quantified JH titres in neotenic reproductives of Reticulitermes speratus, and compared these with other developmental stages. In addition, expression changes in JH signalling gene homologues (Methoprene-tolerant [Met], Krüppel-homolog1, Broad-Complex) in the head, thorax and abdomen were investigated during neotenic differentiation. Finally, we examined the function of Met in reproduction of neotenics by RNA interference (RNAi). Our results showed that the JH titres of neotenics were significantly higher than those of nymphs and workers. JH signalling genes were highly expressed in neotenic abdomens, compared with those in workers and nymphs. Met RNAi resulted in the inhibition of vitellogenin gene expression in newly moulted neotenics. These results suggest that the fertility of neotenics might be controlled by a large increase of JH titres and body-part-specific activation of JH signalling pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Saiki
- Department of Biology, Graduate School of Science and Engineering, University of Toyama, Toyama, 930-8555, 3190, Gofuku, Japan
| | - H Gotoh
- Department of Entomology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, 99164, USA
- Laboratory of Ecological Genetics, Graduate School of Environmental Science, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Hokkaido, 060-0810, Japan
- Laboratory of Sericulture and Entomoresources, Graduate School of Bioagricultural Sciences, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Aichi, 466-8550, Japan
| | - K Toga
- Department of Biology, Graduate School of Science and Engineering, University of Toyama, Toyama, 930-8555, 3190, Gofuku, Japan
- Laboratory of Sericulture and Entomoresources, Graduate School of Bioagricultural Sciences, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Aichi, 466-8550, Japan
| | - T Miura
- Laboratory of Ecological Genetics, Graduate School of Environmental Science, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Hokkaido, 060-0810, Japan
| | - K Maekawa
- Department of Biology, Graduate School of Science and Engineering, University of Toyama, Toyama, 930-8555, 3190, Gofuku, Japan
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Saiki R, Yaguchi H, Hashimoto Y, Kawamura S, Maekawa K. Reproductive Soldier-like Individuals Induced by Juvenile Hormone Analog Treatment in Zootermopsis nevadensis (Isoptera, Archotermopsidae). Zoolog Sci 2014; 31:573-81. [PMID: 25186928 DOI: 10.2108/zs140083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Eusocial insects have highly sophisticated societies, showing a conspicuous division of labor associated with different phenotypes. These castes show specific morphologies adapted to discrete tasks. Termite castes are divided into reproductives, workers, and soldiers. Individuals with soldier-like heads as well as developed gonads have been recorded in several primitive families, and are called reproductive soldiers. In some termite species, however, a trade-off-like developmental relationship has been shown between soldier and imaginal characteristics. Thus, while the mechanism that regulates the development of both characteristics in the same individual is interesting, the details are still unclear. We focused on juvenile hormone (JH), which is involved not only in termite caste differentiation, but also in the gonad development of many insects, and we aimed to clarify the effects of JH on the differentiation of reproductive soldiers in Zootermopsis nevadensis. We succeeded in the induction of individuals with reproductive soldier-like gross morphologies by JH analog (JHA) application to several developmental stages. We also observed that gonad development was significantly promoted by JHA application after molts in the induced reproductive soldier-like individuals, but not in natural soldiers. Finally, we confirmed that the gene expression level of vitellogenin was extremely high in the induced reproductive soldier-like individuals following JHA treatment after the molt. These results suggested that soldiers do not have regulatory mechanisms for gonad development involving JH, and the regulation of reproductive soldiers development is different from that of soldiers. Reproductive soldiers may have evolved independently from the soldier caste rather than from an intermediate stage of soldier evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryota Saiki
- Graduate School of Science and Engineering, University of Toyama, 3190 Gofuku, Toyama 930-8555, Japan
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Watanabe D, Gotoh H, Miura T, Maekawa K. Social interactions affecting caste development through physiological actions in termites. Front Physiol 2014; 5:127. [PMID: 24782780 PMCID: PMC3988372 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2014.00127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2013] [Accepted: 03/14/2014] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
A colony of social insects is not only an aggregation of individuals but also a functional unit. To achieve adaptive social behavior in fluctuating environmental conditions, in addition to coordination of physiological status in each individual, the whole colony is coordinated by interactions among colony members. The study on the regulation of social-insect colonies is termed "social physiology." Termites, a major group of social insects, exhibit many interesting phenomena related to social physiology, such as mechanisms of caste regulation in a colony. In their colonies, there are different types of individuals, i.e., castes, which show distinctive phenotypes specialized in specific colony tasks. Termite castes comprise reproductives, soldiers and workers, and the caste composition can be altered depending on circumstances. For the regulation of caste compositions, interactions among individuals, i.e., social interactions, are thought to be important. In this article, we review previous studies on the adaptive meanings and those on the proximate mechanisms of the caste regulation in termites, and try to understand those comprehensively in terms of social physiology. Firstly, we summarize classical studies on the social interactions. Secondly, previous studies on the pheromone substances that mediate the caste regulatory mechanisms are overviewed. Then, we discuss the roles of a physiological factor, juvenile hormone (JH) in the regulation of caste differentiation. Finally, we introduce the achievements of molecular studies on the animal sociality (i.e., sociogenomics) in terms of social physiology. By comparing the proximate mechanisms of social physiology in termites with those in hymenopterans, we try to get insights into the general principles of social physiology in social animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dai Watanabe
- Laboratory of Ecological Genetics, Graduate School of Environmental Science, Hokkaido UniversitySapporo, Hokkaido, Japan
- Department of Biology, Graduate School of Science and Engineering, University of ToyamaToyama, Japan
| | - Hiroki Gotoh
- Laboratory of Ecological Genetics, Graduate School of Environmental Science, Hokkaido UniversitySapporo, Hokkaido, Japan
- Department of Entomology, Washington State UniversityPullman, WA, USA
| | - Toru Miura
- Laboratory of Ecological Genetics, Graduate School of Environmental Science, Hokkaido UniversitySapporo, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Kiyoto Maekawa
- Department of Biology, Graduate School of Science and Engineering, University of ToyamaToyama, Japan
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Sen R, Raychoudhury R, Cai Y, Sun Y, Lietze VU, Boucias DG, Scharf ME. Differential impacts of juvenile hormone, soldier head extract and alternate caste phenotypes on host and symbiont transcriptome composition in the gut of the termite Reticulitermes flavipes. BMC Genomics 2013; 14:491. [PMID: 23870282 PMCID: PMC3731027 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2164-14-491] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2013] [Accepted: 07/09/2013] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Termites are highly eusocial insects and show a division of labor whereby morphologically distinct individuals specialize in distinct tasks. In the lower termite Reticulitermes flavipes (Rhinotermitidae), non-reproducing individuals form the worker and soldier castes, which specialize in helping (e.g., brood care, cleaning, foraging) and defense behaviors, respectively. Workers are totipotent juveniles that can either undergo status quo molts or develop into soldiers or neotenic reproductives. This caste differentiation can be regulated by juvenile hormone (JH) and primer pheromones contained in soldier head extracts (SHE). Here we offered worker termites a cellulose diet treated with JH or SHE for 24-hr, or held them with live soldiers (LS) or live neotenic reproductives (LR). We then determined gene expression profiles of the host termite gut and protozoan symbionts concurrently using custom cDNA oligo-microarrays containing 10,990 individual ESTs. RESULTS JH was the most influential treatment (501 total ESTs affected), followed by LS (24 ESTs), LR (12 ESTs) and SHE treatments (6 ESTs). The majority of JH up- and downregulated ESTs were of host and symbiont origin, respectively; in contrast, SHE, LR and LS treatments had more uniform impacts on host and symbiont gene expression. Repeat "follow-up" bioassays investigating combined JH + SHE impacts in relation to individual JH and SHE treatments on a subset of array-positive genes revealed (i) JH and SHE treatments had opposite impacts on gene expression and (ii) JH + SHE impacts on gene expression were generally intermediate between JH and SHE. CONCLUSIONS Our results show that JH impacts hundreds of termite and symbiont genes within 24-hr, strongly suggesting a role for the termite gut in JH-dependent caste determination. Additionally, differential impacts of SHE and LS treatments were observed that are in strong agreement with previous studies that specifically investigated soldier caste regulation. However, it is likely that gene expression outside the gut may be of equal or greater importance than gut gene expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruchira Sen
- Department of Entomology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
| | | | - Yunpeng Cai
- Interdisciplinary Center for Biotechnology Research, University of Florida,
Gainesville, FL, USA
- Current Address: Research Center for Biomedical Information Technology,
Shenzhen Institutes of Advance Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences,
Shenzhen, China
| | - Yijun Sun
- Interdisciplinary Center for Biotechnology Research, University of Florida,
Gainesville, FL, USA
- Current Address: Department of Microbiology and Immunology & New York
State Center of Excellence in Bioinformatics and Life Sciences, The State
University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY 14203, USA
| | - Verena-Ulrike Lietze
- Entomology and Nematology Department, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL,
USA
| | - Drion G Boucias
- Entomology and Nematology Department, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL,
USA
| | - Michael E Scharf
- Department of Entomology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
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Buttstedt A, Moritz RFA, Erler S. Origin and function of the major royal jelly proteins of the honeybee (Apis mellifera) as members of the yellow gene family. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2013; 89:255-69. [PMID: 23855350 DOI: 10.1111/brv.12052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 105] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2012] [Revised: 06/19/2013] [Accepted: 06/20/2013] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
In the honeybee, Apis mellifera, the queen larvae are fed with a diet exclusively composed of royal jelly (RJ), a secretion of the hypopharyngeal gland of young worker bees that nurse the brood. Up to 15% of RJ is composed of proteins, the nine most abundant of which have been termed major royal jelly proteins (MRJPs). Although it is widely accepted that RJ somehow determines the fate of a female larva and in spite of considerable research efforts, there are surprisingly few studies that address the biochemical characterisation and functions of these MRJPs. Here we review the research on MRJPs not only in honeybees but in hymenopteran insects in general and provide metadata analyses on genome organisation of mrjp genes, corroborating previous reports that MRJPs have important functions for insect development and not just a nutritional value for developing honeybee larvae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anja Buttstedt
- Departamentul de Apicultură şi Sericicultură, Facultatea de Zootehnie şi Biotehnologii, Universitatea de Ştiinţe Agricole şi Medicină Veterinară, Cluj-Napoca, 400372, Romania; Institut für Biologie, Zoologie-Molekulare Ökologie, Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg, Halle, 06099, Germany
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Abstract
UNLABELLED INTRODUCTION Primitively eusocial halictid bees are excellent systems to study the origin of eusociality, because all individuals have retained the ancestral ability to breed independently. In the sweat bee Halictus scabiosae, foundresses overwinter, establish nests and rear a first brood by mass-provisioning each offspring with pollen and nectar. The mothers may thus manipulate the phenotype of their offspring by restricting their food provisions. The first brood females generally help their mother to rear a second brood of males and gynes that become foundresses. However, the first brood females may also reproduce in their maternal or in other nests, or possibly enter early diapause. Here, we examined if the behavioural specialization of the first and second brood females was associated with between-brood differences in body size, energetic reserves and pollen provisions. RESULTS The patterns of variation in adult body size, weight, fat content and food provisioned to the first and second brood indicate that H. scabiosae has dimorphic females. The first-brood females were significantly smaller, lighter and had lower fat reserves than the second-brood females and foundresses. The first-brood females were also less variable in size and fat content, and developed on homogeneously smaller pollen provisions. Foundresses were larger than gynes of the previous year, suggesting that small females were less likely to survive the winter. CONCLUSIONS The marked size dimorphism between females produced in the first and second brood and the consistently smaller pollen provisions provided to the first brood suggest that the first brood females are channelled into a helper role during their pre-imaginal development. As a large body size is needed for successful hibernation, the mother may promote helping in her first brood offspring by restricting their food provisions. This pattern supports the hypothesis that parental manipulation may contribute to promote worker behaviour in primitively eusocial halictids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nayuta Brand
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Lausanne, Lausanne 1015, Switzerland
| | - Michel Chapuisat
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Lausanne, Lausanne 1015, Switzerland
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Tarver MR, Florane CB, Mattison CP, Holloway BA, Lax A. Myosin Gene Expression and Protein Abundance in Different Castes of the Formosan Subterranean Termite (Coptotermes formosanus). Insects 2012; 3:1190-9. [PMID: 26466734 DOI: 10.3390/insects3041190] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2012] [Revised: 11/06/2012] [Accepted: 11/07/2012] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
The Formosan subterranean termite (Coptotermes formosanus) is an important worldwide pest, each year causing millions of dollars in structural damage and control costs. Termite colonies are composed of several phenotypically distinct castes. Termites utilize these multiple castes to efficiently perform unique roles within the colony. During the molting/caste differentiation process, multiple genes are believed to be involved in the massive reorganization of the body plan. The objective of this research was to analyze the muscle gene, myosin, to further understand the role it plays in C. formosanus development. We find that comparing worker vs. solider caste myosin gene expression is up-regulated in the soldier and a myosin antibody-reactive protein suggests changes in splicing. Comparison of body regions of mature soldier and worker castes indicates a greater level of myosin transcript in the heads. The differential expression of this important muscle-related gene is anticipated considering the large amount of body plan reorganization and muscle found in the soldier caste. These results have a direct impact on our understanding of the downstream genes in the caste differentiation process and may lead to new targets for termite control.
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Ikeda T, Furukawa S, Nakamura J, Sasaki M, Sasaki T. CpG methylation in the hexamerin 110 gene in the European honeybee, Apis mellifera. J Insect Sci 2011; 11:74. [PMID: 21870982 PMCID: PMC3281433 DOI: 10.1673/031.011.7401] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2010] [Accepted: 10/24/2010] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
The European honeybee, Apis mellifera L. (Hymenoptera: Apidae), has a full set of machinery for functional CpG methylation of its genome. A recent study demonstrated that DNA methylation in the honeybee is involved in caste differentiation. In this study, the expression and methylation of the hexamerin 110 gene (Hex110), which encodes a storage protein, was analyzed. High levels of the Hex110 transcript were expressed in both worker and queen larvae. Low levels of this transcript were also detected in adult fat bodies, and the expression level was higher in the queen than in the worker. Bisulfite sequencing revealed that the Hex110 gene is overall methylated at a low level, with a limited number of CpG sites methylated at relatively high levels. These highly methylated sites were exclusively located in the exon regions. The average methylation rate of the Hex110 gene was higher in the adult stage than in the larval stage. Furthermore, several CpG sites were differentially methylated between the worker and queen larvae. These observations suggest that the methylation of the Hex110 gene is regulated at the developmental stage and in a caste-dependent manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takashi Ikeda
- Brain Science Institute, Tamagawa University, Tamagawagakuen, Machida, Tokyo 194–8610
| | - Seiichi Furukawa
- Brain Science Institute, Tamagawa University, Tamagawagakuen, Machida, Tokyo 194–8610
| | - Jun Nakamura
- Honeybee Science Research Center, Research Institute, Tamagawa University, Tamagawagakuen, Machida, Tokyo 194–8610
| | - Masami Sasaki
- Brain Science Institute, Tamagawa University, Tamagawagakuen, Machida, Tokyo 194–8610
- Honeybee Science Research Center, Research Institute, Tamagawa University, Tamagawagakuen, Machida, Tokyo 194–8610
| | - Tetsuhiko Sasaki
- Brain Science Institute, Tamagawa University, Tamagawagakuen, Machida, Tokyo 194–8610
- Honeybee Science Research Center, Research Institute, Tamagawa University, Tamagawagakuen, Machida, Tokyo 194–8610
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Itakura S, Kawabata S, Tanaka H, Enoki A. Effect of norharmane in vitro on juvenile hormone epoxide hydrolase activity in the lower termite, Reticulitermes speratus. J Insect Sci 2008; 8:13. [PMID: 20345286 PMCID: PMC3061585 DOI: 10.1673/031.008.1301] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2007] [Accepted: 06/15/2007] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
The aromatic beta-carboline norharmane was determined in workers, nymphs, and ergatoids of Reticulitermes speratus (Kolbe) (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae) by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. Norharmane levels in workers, nymphs, and ergatoids collected in May (approximately 4.3 ng/termite) were higher than those in November (approximately 0.2 ng/termite). Fluorescence of norharmane was observed in histological sections in whole animals and in the fat body. Norharmane, at a final concentration of 1 mM, stimulated juvenile hormone epoxide hydrolase (JHEH) activity of enzyme extract from ergatoids, but inhibited JHEH activity at higher concentrations. The elevated JHEH activity stimulated by norharmane should accelerate juvenile hormone metabolism in R. speratus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuji Itakura
- Department of Applied Biological Chemistry, Kinki University, Naka-Machi, Nara 631-8505, Japan.
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