Expression of methyl farnesoate epoxidase (mfe) and juvenile hormone esterase (jhe) genes and their relation to social organization in the stingless bee Melipona interrupta (Hymenoptera: Apidae)

Social organization in highly eusocial bees relies upon two important processes: caste differentiation in female larvae, and age polyethism in adult workers. Juvenile Hormone (JH) is a key regulator of both processes. Here we investigated the expression of two genes involved in JH metabolism - mfe (...

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Published in:Genetics and molecular biology 2021-01, Vol.44 (3), p.e20200367-e20200367
Main Authors: Brito, Diana Vieira, Silva, Carlos Gustavo Nunes da, Rêgo, Livia Cristina Neves, Carvalho-Zilse, Gislene Almeida
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
age polyethism
Animal behavior
Animal Genetics
Bees
BIOCHEMISTRY & MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
Biosynthesis
Caste determination
Caste differentiation
Developmental stages
division of labor
Esterase
eusocial bees
Gene expression
Genes
GENETICS & HEREDITY
Juvenile hormone
Juvenile hormone esterase
Juvenile hormones
Larvae
Larval development
Melipona interrupta
Metabolism
Social organization
Workers (insect caste)
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Summary:Social organization in highly eusocial bees relies upon two important processes: caste differentiation in female larvae, and age polyethism in adult workers. Juvenile Hormone (JH) is a key regulator of both processes. Here we investigated the expression of two genes involved in JH metabolism - mfe (biosynthesis) and jhe (degradation) - in the context of social organization in the stingless bee Melipona interrupta. We found evidence that the expression of mfe and jhe genes is related to changes in JH levels during late larval development, where caste determination occurs. Also, both mfe and jhe were upregulated when workers engage in intranidal tasks, but only jhe expression was downregulated at the transition from nursing to foraging activities. This relation is different than expected, considering recent reports of lower JH levels in foragers than nurses in the closely related species Melipona scutellaris. Our findings suggest that highly eusocial bees have different mechanisms to regulate JH and, thus, to maintain their level of social organization.
ISSN:1415-4757
1678-4685
1678-4685
DOI:10.1590/1678-4685-GMB-2020-0367