Metabolomics,Unknown,Transcriptomics,Genomics,Proteomics

Dataset Information

Transcription profiling of abdomens from anarchist and wild-type honeybee strains to investigate ovary activation

ABSTRACT: Effect of genotype (wildtype vs. anarchist) on gene expression in developing (four-day-old) honeybee worker abdomens. Goal of experiment is to identify genes associated with ovary activation during worker development. These genes are hypothesised to be candidates for the regulation of worker sterility.

INSTRUMENT(S): 428 [Affymetrix]

ORGANISM(S): Apis mellifera

SUBMITTER: Benjamin Oldroyd

PROVIDER: E-MEXP-705 | biostudies-arrayexpress |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-arrayexpress

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Publications

Towards a molecular definition of worker sterility: differential gene expression and reproductive plasticity in honey bees.

Thompson G J GJ Kucharski R R Maleszka R R Oldroyd B P BP

Insect molecular biology 20061001 5

We show that differences in the reproductive development of honey bee workers are associated with locus-specific changes to abundance of messenger RNA. Using a cross-fostering field experiment to control for differences related to age and environment, we compared the gene expression profiles of functionally sterile workers (wild-type) and those from a mutant strain in which workers are reproductively active (anarchist). Among the set of three genes that are significantly differentially expressed ...[more]

PMID: 17069629

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Project description:As a matter of fact, honeybees are vital for the pollination of more than 80 crops of agricultural interest. However, population decline has become an important global issue causing significant concerns among agricultural experts and the broader public. For this, parasites are known to be the major culprits responsible for the losses of millions of honeybee colonies so far. Among these parasites, Varroa destructor has been identified as a major cause for global losses in Western honeybee (Apis mellifera) colonies. Hygienic behavior (HB), on the other hand, is a collective response by adult honeybees to defend against parasites and diseases that is known to involve in resistance towards Varroosis. Even with the efforts made to elucidate the molecular mechanism underlying HB, it is still not understood. In our study, we have studied the proteomic correlates to HB using a honeybee line (selected for Varroa-specific HB for over a decade in Germany). We sampled individual worker bees from this line that showed HB after closer infrared video observations and compared the proteomes of their mushroom bodies and antennae with those of workers that came from the same set of colonies but didn't show the behaviour. Furthermore, we compared the pupal hemolymph for worker bees of the selected HB line and a control line using state-of-the art techniques of proteomics. We identified a total of 8609 proteins (covered >55% of the honeybee proteome) from these three honeybee tissues. This is the most comprehensive proteomic study of the honeybee HB to date, and the first to focus on individual bees expressing Varroa-specific HB. These results have significantly advanced our knowledge on the biology underlining HB to a new level. The uniquely found functional classes and pathways by the proteins identified in each tissue suggest that hygienic bees have shaped distinct proteome settings to underpin the HB. Moreover, during analysis of pupal hemolymph proteome, the HB-line has adapted a unique strategy to boost an individual and social immunity and drove pupal organogenesis via energy metabolism and protein biosynthesis. Moreover, in the mushroom bodies of different HB phenotypic worker bees, the hygienic bees have enhanced their neuronal sensitivity to promote the execution of HB by activation of synaptic vesicles and calcium channel activities. Moreover, in the antennae of two HB phenotypic worker bees, the hygienic bees have demonstrated strengthening of their sensitivity associated with olfactory senses and signal transmissions, which is important to input a strong signal to the mushroom bodies and initiate HB. In conclusion, our novel findings have significantly extended our understandings of the molecular mechanisms that underline the HB to combat Varroa infestation. Furthermore, we identified a wide array of novel markers that are useful for accelerating marker associated selection of HB to aid in the natural resistance to a parasite blamed for a global decline in honeybee health.

Dataset Information

Transcription profiling of abdomens from anarchist and wild-type honeybee strains to investigate ovary activation

Publications

Towards a molecular definition of worker sterility: differential gene expression and reproductive plasticity in honey bees.

Similar Datasets

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