Interplay between insulin signaling, juvenile hormone, and vitellogenin regulates maternal effects on polyphenism in ants

• DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1221781110
• Publication Date: 2013-06-11T04:02:47Z
• Authors: Romain Libbrecht; Miguel Corona; Franziska Wende; Dihego O. Azevedo; Jose E. Serrão; Laurent Keller
• Keywords: Polyphenism; Vitellogenin; Corpus allatum

Polyphenism is the phenomenon in which alternative phenotypes are produced by a single genotype response to environmental cues. An extreme case found social insects, reproductive queens and sterile workers that greatly differ morphology behavior can arise from genotype. Experimental evidence for maternal effects on caste determination, differential larval development toward queen or worker caste, was recently documented Pogonomyrmex seed harvester ants, only colonies with hibernated produce new queens. However, proximate mechanisms behind these intergenerational have remained elusive. We used combination of artificial hibernation, hormonal treatments, gene expression analyses, hormone measurements, vitellogenin quantification investigate how combined effect cues signaling affects process determination rugosus . The results show interplay between insulin signaling, juvenile hormone, regulates production set as likely key player transmission information. This study reveals hibernation triggers ant colonies. More generally, it provides important information showing experienced one generation translate into phenotypic variation next generation.