RNA-sequencing elucidates the regulation of behavioural transitions associated with the mating process in honey bee queens

• DOI: 10.1186/s12864-015-1750-7
• Publication Date: 2015-07-30T11:17:11Z
• Authors: Fabio Manfredini; Mark J F Brown; Vanina Vergoz; Benjamin P Oldroyd
• Keywords: Australian honey bees; 570; Supplementary Data; Oviposition; 590; QH426 Genetics; Double necrosis; Sexual Behavior, Animal; 03 medical and health sciences; Genetics; Animals; Humans; Behaviour; Transcriptomics; QH426; QL; 0303 health sciences; Mating; Reproduction; Australia; Brain; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing; QL Zoology; Bees; RNAseq; Carbon dioxide; Gene Expression Regulation; BB/J019453/; Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC); RNA; Female; Gene expression; Apis mellifera; Biotechnology; Research Article

Mating is a complex process, which frequently associated with behavioural and physiological changes. However, understanding of the genetic underpinnings these changes limited. Honey bees are both model system in genomics, dominant managed pollinator human crops; consequently mating process has pure applied value. We used next-generation transcriptomics to probe gene expression brains honey bee queens, as they transition from virgin mated reproductive status. In addition, we CO2-narcosis, induces oviposition without mating, isolate maturation. The produced significant vision, chemo-reception, metabolic, immune-related genes. Differential genes maps clearly onto known that occur during being queen newly-mated queen. A subset were also detected CO2-treated predicted previous studies. compared our results studies microarray techniques across range experimental time-points. Changes immune- vision-related common all studies, supporting an involvement groups process. Our study important step molecular mechanisms regulating post-mating transitions natural system. weak overlap patterns demonstrates high sensitivity genome-wide approaches. Thus, while build on explored bees, broader design, use RNA-sequencing, focus Australian remain free devastating parasite Varroa destructor, current study, provide unique insights into biology bees.