Title: | Flight and fight: a comparative view of the neurophysiology and genetics of honey bee defensive behavior |
Address: | "Department of Entomology, Purdue University, 901 W. State St., West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA. ghunt@purdue.edu" |
DOI: | 10.1016/j.jinsphys.2007.01.010 |
ISSN/ISBN: | 0022-1910 (Print) 0022-1910 (Linking) |
Abstract: | "Honey bee nest defense involves guard bees that specialize in olfaction-based nestmate recognition and alarm-pheromone-mediated recruitment of nestmates to sting. Stinging is influenced by visual, tactile and olfactory stimuli. Both quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping and behavioral studies point to guarding behavior as a key factor in colony stinging response. Results of reciprocal F1 crosses show that paternally inherited genes have a greater influence on colony stinging response than maternally inherited genes. The most active alarm pheromone component, isoamyl acetate (IAA) causes increased respiration and may induce stress analgesia in bees. IAA primes worker bees for 'fight or flight', possibly through actions of neuropeptides and/or biogenic amines. Studies of aggression in other species lead to an expectation that octopamine or 5-HT might play a role in honey bee defensive response. Genome sequence and QTL mapping identified 128 candidate genes for three regions known to influence defensive behavior. Comparative bioinformatics suggest possible roles of genes involved in neurogenesis and central nervous system (CNS) activity, and genes involved in sensory tuning through G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs), such as an arrestin (AmArr4) and the metabotropic GABA(B) receptor (GABA-B-R1)" |
Keywords: | "Age Factors Animals Bees/genetics/*physiology Behavior, Animal/*physiology Biogenic Amines/physiology Epigenesis, Genetic Gene Expression Profiling Genes, Insect Nervous System Physiological Phenomena Pheromones/physiology Quantitative Trait Loci Social B;" |
Notes: | "MedlineHunt, G J eng R29 GM054850-05/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/ R29 GM548580/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/ Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S. Review England 2007/03/24 J Insect Physiol. 2007 May; 53(5):399-410. doi: 10.1016/j.jinsphys.2007.01.010. Epub 2007 Feb 16" |