| Title: | Genomic analysis of the interactions between social environment and social communication systems in honey bees (Apis mellifera) |
| Author(s): | Malka O; Nino EL; Grozinger CM; Hefetz A; |
| Address: | "Department of Zoology, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel. Electronic address: osnat226@gmail.com. Department of Entomology, Center for Pollinator Research, Center for Chemical Ecology, Huck Institute for Life Sciences, Chemical Ecology Laboratory, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA. Electronic address: elnino@psu.edu. Department of Entomology, Center for Pollinator Research, Center for Chemical Ecology, Huck Institute for Life Sciences, Chemical Ecology Laboratory, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA. Electronic address: cmgrozinger@psu.edu. Department of Zoology, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel. Electronic address: hefetz@post.tau.ac.il" |
| DOI: | 10.1016/j.ibmb.2014.01.001 |
| ISSN/ISBN: | 1879-0240 (Electronic) 0965-1748 (Linking) |
| Abstract: | "Social context is often a primary regulator of social behavior, but genes that affect or are affected by social context have rarely been investigated. In social insects, caste specific pheromones are key modulators of social behavior, e.g., in honey bees the queen mandibular gland (MG) pheromone mediates reproductive dominance, its absence prompting ovary activation and queen pheromone production in workers. Here, we investigate the effect of social environment on genome-wide expression patterns in the MG, to determine how social context modulates expression of genes that, in turn alter social environment. We used microarrays to examine the MGs of virgin and mated queens, and queenright (QR) and queenless (QL) workers with or without activated ovaries. Approximately 2554 transcripts were significantly differentially expressed among these groups, with caste and social context being the main regulators of gene expression patterns, while physiological state (ovary activation) only minimally affecting gene expression. Thus, social context strongly regulates expression of genes, which, in turn, shape social environment. Among these, 25 genes that are putatively involved in caste selective production of the fatty-acid derived MG pheromone were differentially expressed in queens and workers. These genes whose functions correspond with enzymatic or transport processes emphasize the occurrence of disparate pheromone biosynthetic pathways for queens and workers, adding another dimension regarding the regulation of these important pheromones. Gene ontology analysis also revealed genes of different functional categories whose expression was impacted by caste or by the social environment, suggesting that the MG has broader functions than pheromone biosynthesis" |
| Keywords: | "Animals Bees/*genetics/physiology Behavior, Animal Female Gene Expression *Genomics Insect Proteins/genetics/metabolism Male Molecular Sequence Data Pheromones/metabolism *Social Behavior Social Environment Chemical communication Genomics Honey bee Pherom;" |
| Notes: | "MedlineMalka, Osnat Nino, Elina L Grozinger, Christina M Hefetz, Abraham eng Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't England 2014/02/04 Insect Biochem Mol Biol. 2014 Apr; 47:36-45. doi: 10.1016/j.ibmb.2014.01.001. Epub 2014 Jan 31" |
