Effects of age and nutritional state on the expression of gustatory receptors in the honeybee (Apis mellifera).
Gustatory receptors (Grs) expressed in insect taste neurons signal the presence of carbohydrates, sugar alcohols, CO2, bitter compounds and oviposition stimulants. The honeybee (Apis mellifera) has one of the smallest Gr gene sets (12 Gr genes) of any insect whose genome has been sequenced. Honeybee...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Public Library of Science (PLoS)
2017-01-01
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| Series: | PLoS ONE |
| Online Access: | http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC5389653?pdf=render |
| _version_ | 1818310793684320256 |
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| author | Nicola K Simcock Luisa A Wakeling Dianne Ford Geraldine A Wright |
| author_facet | Nicola K Simcock Luisa A Wakeling Dianne Ford Geraldine A Wright |
| author_sort | Nicola K Simcock |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Gustatory receptors (Grs) expressed in insect taste neurons signal the presence of carbohydrates, sugar alcohols, CO2, bitter compounds and oviposition stimulants. The honeybee (Apis mellifera) has one of the smallest Gr gene sets (12 Gr genes) of any insect whose genome has been sequenced. Honeybees live in eusocial colonies with a division of labour and perform age-dependent behavioural tasks, primarily food collection. Here, we used RT-qPCR to quantify Gr mRNA in honeybees at two ages (newly-emerged and foraging-age adults) to examine the relationship between age-related physiology and expression of Gr genes. We measured the Gr mRNAs in the taste organs and also the brain and gut. The mRNA of all Gr genes was detected in all tissues analysed but showed plasticity in relative expression across tissues and in relation to age. Overall, Gr gene expression was higher in the taste organs than in the internal tissues but did not show an overall age-dependent difference. In contrast Gr gene expression in brain was generally higher in foragers, which may indicate greater reliance on internal nutrient sensing. Expression of the candidate sugar receptors AmGr1, AmGr2 and AmGr3 in forager brain was affected by the types of sugars bees fed on. The levels of expression in the brain were greater for AmGr1 but lower for AmGr2 and AmGr3 when bees were fed with glucose and fructose compared with sucrose. Additionally, AmGr3 mRNA was increased in starved bees compared to bees provided ad libitum sucrose. Thus, expression of these Grs in forager brain reflects both the satiety state of the bee (AmGr3) and the type of sugar on which the bee has fed. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-13T07:51:43Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-e62c84f226d44a339e654453f0f2657a |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1932-6203 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-13T07:51:43Z |
| publishDate | 2017-01-01 |
| publisher | Public Library of Science (PLoS) |
| record_format | Article |
| series | PLoS ONE |
| spelling | doaj.art-e62c84f226d44a339e654453f0f2657a2022-12-21T23:54:39ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032017-01-01124e017515810.1371/journal.pone.0175158Effects of age and nutritional state on the expression of gustatory receptors in the honeybee (Apis mellifera).Nicola K SimcockLuisa A WakelingDianne FordGeraldine A WrightGustatory receptors (Grs) expressed in insect taste neurons signal the presence of carbohydrates, sugar alcohols, CO2, bitter compounds and oviposition stimulants. The honeybee (Apis mellifera) has one of the smallest Gr gene sets (12 Gr genes) of any insect whose genome has been sequenced. Honeybees live in eusocial colonies with a division of labour and perform age-dependent behavioural tasks, primarily food collection. Here, we used RT-qPCR to quantify Gr mRNA in honeybees at two ages (newly-emerged and foraging-age adults) to examine the relationship between age-related physiology and expression of Gr genes. We measured the Gr mRNAs in the taste organs and also the brain and gut. The mRNA of all Gr genes was detected in all tissues analysed but showed plasticity in relative expression across tissues and in relation to age. Overall, Gr gene expression was higher in the taste organs than in the internal tissues but did not show an overall age-dependent difference. In contrast Gr gene expression in brain was generally higher in foragers, which may indicate greater reliance on internal nutrient sensing. Expression of the candidate sugar receptors AmGr1, AmGr2 and AmGr3 in forager brain was affected by the types of sugars bees fed on. The levels of expression in the brain were greater for AmGr1 but lower for AmGr2 and AmGr3 when bees were fed with glucose and fructose compared with sucrose. Additionally, AmGr3 mRNA was increased in starved bees compared to bees provided ad libitum sucrose. Thus, expression of these Grs in forager brain reflects both the satiety state of the bee (AmGr3) and the type of sugar on which the bee has fed.http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC5389653?pdf=render |
| spellingShingle | Nicola K Simcock Luisa A Wakeling Dianne Ford Geraldine A Wright Effects of age and nutritional state on the expression of gustatory receptors in the honeybee (Apis mellifera). PLoS ONE |
| title | Effects of age and nutritional state on the expression of gustatory receptors in the honeybee (Apis mellifera). |
| title_full | Effects of age and nutritional state on the expression of gustatory receptors in the honeybee (Apis mellifera). |
| title_fullStr | Effects of age and nutritional state on the expression of gustatory receptors in the honeybee (Apis mellifera). |
| title_full_unstemmed | Effects of age and nutritional state on the expression of gustatory receptors in the honeybee (Apis mellifera). |
| title_short | Effects of age and nutritional state on the expression of gustatory receptors in the honeybee (Apis mellifera). |
| title_sort | effects of age and nutritional state on the expression of gustatory receptors in the honeybee apis mellifera |
| url | http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC5389653?pdf=render |
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