| Title: | Attack of the dark clones the genetics of reproductive and color traits of South African honey bees (Apis mellifera spp.) |
| Author(s): | Patterson Rosa L; Eimanifar A; Kimes AG; Brooks SA; Ellis JD; |
| Address: | "Honey Bee Research and Extension Laboratory, Entomology and Nematology Department, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, United States of America. Independent Senior Research Scientist, Industrial District, Easton, Maryland, United States of America. Department of Animal Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, United States of America. UF Genetics Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, United States of America" |
| DOI: | 10.1371/journal.pone.0260833 |
| ISSN/ISBN: | 1932-6203 (Electronic) 1932-6203 (Linking) |
| Abstract: | "The traits of two subspecies of western honey bees, Apis mellifera scutellata and A.m. capensis, endemic to the Republic of South Africa (RSA), are of biological and commercial relevance. Nevertheless, the genetic basis of important phenotypes found in these subspecies remains poorly understood. We performed a genome wide association study on three traits of biological relevance in 234 A.m. capensis, 73 A.m. scutellata and 158 hybrid individuals. Thirteen markers were significantly associated to at least one trait (P del) (R69Efs*85) and a nonsense on GB54634 (NC_007076.3:g.4492792A>G;p.Tyr128*) causing a premature stop, substantially shortening the predicted protein. The mutant genotypes are significantly associated to phenotypes in A.m. capensis. Loss-of-function of Ebony can cause accumulation of circulating dopamine, and increased dopamine levels correlate to ovary development in queenless workers and pheromone production. Allelic association (P = 1.824 x 10-5) of NC_007076.3:g.4492792A>G;p.Tyr128* to ovariole number warrants further investigation into function and expression of the GB54634 gene. Our results highlight genetic components of relevant production/conservation behavioral phenotypes in honey bees" |
| Keywords: | "Animals Bees/anatomy & histology/*genetics Behavior Dopamine/metabolism Genes, Insect Genome-Wide Association Study Genotype Mutation Phenotype Pheromones/genetics/metabolism Reproduction/*genetics South Africa;" |
| Notes: | "MedlinePatterson Rosa, Laura Eimanifar, Amin Kimes, Abigail G Brooks, Samantha A Ellis, James D eng Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S. 2021/12/15 PLoS One. 2021 Dec 14; 16(12):e0260833. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0260833. eCollection 2021" |
