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Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A

Title:		Peripheral modulation of worker bee responses to queen mandibular pheromone
Author(s):		Vergoz V; McQuillan HJ; Geddes LH; Pullar K; Nicholson BJ; Paulin MG; Mercer AR;
Address:		"Department of Zoology, University of Otago, P.O. Box 56, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand"
Journal Title:		Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A
Year:		2009
Volume:		20091123
Issue:		49
Page Number:		20930 - 20935
DOI:		10.1073/pnas.0907563106
ISSN/ISBN:		1091-6490 (Electronic) 0027-8424 (Print) 0027-8424 (Linking)
Abstract:		"It is generally accepted that young worker bees (Apis mellifera L.) are highly attracted to queen mandibular pheromone (QMP). Our results challenge this widely held view. We have found that unless young workers are exposed to QMP early in adult life, they, like foragers, avoid contact with this pheromone. Our data indicate that responses to QMP are regulated peripherally, at the level of the antennal sensory neurons, and that a window of opportunity exists in which QMP can alter a young bee's response to this critically important pheromone. Exposing young bees to QMP from the time of adult emergence reduces expression in the antennae of the D1-like dopamine receptor gene, Amdop1. Levels of Amdop3 transcript, on the other hand, and of the octopamine receptor gene Amoa1, are significantly higher in the antennae of bees strongly attracted to QMP than in bees showing no attraction to this pheromone. A decline in QMP attraction with age is accompanied by a fall in expression in worker antennae of the D2-like dopamine receptor, AmDOP3, a receptor that is selectively activated by QMP. Taken together, our findings suggest that QMP's actions peripherally not only suppress avoidance behavior, but also enhance attraction to QMP, thereby facilitating attendance of the queen"
Keywords:		"Aging/drug effects/genetics Animals Bees/*drug effects/*physiology Behavior, Animal/*drug effects Feeding Behavior/drug effects Female Gene Expression Regulation/drug effects Insect Proteins/genetics/metabolism Mandible/*metabolism Motor Activity/drug eff;"
Notes:		"MedlineVergoz, Vanina McQuillan, H James Geddes, Lisa H Pullar, Kiri Nicholson, Brad J Paulin, Michael G Mercer, Alison R eng Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't 2009/11/26 Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2009 Dec 8; 106(49):20930-5. doi: 10.1073/pnas.0907563106. Epub 2009 Nov 23"