Sugar perception in honeybees

• DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2022.1089669
• Publication Date: 2023-01-13T05:42:04Z
• Authors: Laura Değirmenci; Fabio Luiz Rogé F...; Adrian Vukosavljevic; Cornelia Heindl; Alexander Keller; Dietmar Geiger; Ricarda Scheiner
• Keywords: Taste receptor

Honeybees (Apis mellifera) need their fine sense of taste to evaluate nectar and pollen sources. Gustatory receptors (Grs) translate signals into electrical responses. In vivo experiments have demonstrated collective responses the whole Gr-set. We here disentangle contributions all three honeybee sugar (AmGr1-3), combining CRISPR/Cas9 mediated genetic knock-out, electrophysiology behaviour. show an expanded spectrum AmGr1 receptor. Mutants lacking a reduced response sucrose glucose but not fructose. AmGr2 solely acts as co-receptor AmGr3, we by using bimolecular fluorescence complementation. Our results for first time that is indeed functional receptor on its own. Intriguingly, mutants still display wildtype-like taste. AmGr3 specific fructose modulated co-receptor. Eliminating while preserving abolishes perception sucrose. comprehensive study functions AmGr1, in honeybees combine investigations at level simultaneously vivo. rely two gustatory relevant sugars.