蜂王上颚腺信息素对雄蜂候选性信息素受体基因表达的影响

【目的】性信息素受体(sex pheromone receptors, PRs)是雄蜂感受蜂王上颚腺信息素(queen mandibular pheromone, QMP)的重要受体。本研究分析中华蜜蜂Apis cerana cerana(简称"中蜂")和意大利蜜蜂Apis mellifera ligustica(简称"意蜂")雄蜂触角和大脑中候选性信息素受体基因Prs受QMP刺激下的表达特征,为探索蜜蜂气味受体(OR)基因的功能研究提供理论依据。【方法】利用qRT-PCR技术检测分析分别用10μL QMP[7.04μg/μL反式-9-氧代-2-癸烯酸(9-ODA)+1.26μg/μL 9-羟基-2-癸烯酸(9-HDA)+0.03μg/μL对羟基苯甲酸甲酯(HOB)]和10μL 7.04μg/μL 9-ODA处理对飞行状态和爬行状态下的中蜂雄蜂和意蜂雄蜂触角和大脑中4个气味受体基因(Or10,Or11,Or18和Or170)的mRNA表达量的影响。【结果】与空白对照组相比,QMP及9-ODA均能显著下调中蜂雄蜂和意蜂雄蜂触角与大脑中Or11的mRNA表达量;中蜂雄蜂触角中AcOr18和AcOr170基因受QMP及9-ODA刺激后mRNA表达量显著下调;QMP与9-ODA均能显著降低中蜂雄蜂和意蜂雄蜂大脑中Or170的mRNA表达量。在QMP或9-ODA刺激下,飞行中蜂雄蜂大脑中AcOr11的mRNA表达量显著高于爬行中蜂雄蜂大脑中的,而飞行与爬行中蜂雄蜂触角中AcOr11的mRNA表达量没有显著差异。【结论】中蜂和意蜂雄蜂触角与大脑中气味受体基因Or11均能应答蜂王上颚腺信息素9-ODA,且受9-ODA刺激后Or11的mRNA表达下调。     

蜂王上颚腺信息素对中华蜜蜂、意大利蜜蜂雄蜂选择行为的影响

【目的】分析蜂王上颚腺信息素(Queen mandibular pheromone,QMP)对中华蜜蜂Apis cerana cerana(简称中蜂)雄蜂与意大利蜜蜂Apismelliferaligustica(简称意蜂)雄蜂行为反应的变化,探索两蜂种雄蜂之间婚飞的干扰机理。【方法】本试验通过室内Y型嗅觉仪检测QMP及其主要成分反式-9-氧代-2-癸烯酸[(E)-9-oxodec-2-enoicacid,9-ODA]对飞行、爬行状态下中蜂雄蜂与意蜂雄蜂选择行为的差异进行研究。【结果】飞行或爬行状态下的中蜂雄蜂和意蜂雄蜂,均对3.5、7.0和14.0μg/μL的9-ODA没有显著趋向性反应(P 0.05);飞行中蜂雄蜂、飞行与爬行意蜂雄蜂均对0.04、0.2、1.0及7.0μg/μL的QMP具有显著趋避反应(P 0.05),而QMP对爬行中蜂雄蜂无显著影响(P 0.05);在中蜂雄蜂和意蜂雄蜂共存时的试验中发现:飞行、爬行意蜂雄蜂均对7.0μg/μL QMP存在显著趋避反应(P 0.05),而7.0μg/μL QMP对飞行或爬行中蜂雄蜂均无显著影响(P 0.05)。【结论】在室内环境下,QMP对中蜂、意蜂雄蜂有驱避作用。     

中华蜜蜂与意大利蜜蜂蜂王体表信息素含量比较

【目的】分析中华蜜蜂Apis cerana cerana与意大利蜜蜂Apis mellifera ligustica蜂王不同时期的体表信息素含量变化,探索两蜂种之间蜂王交尾干扰机理。【方法】本试验通过GC-MS检测并分析了中华蜜蜂蜂王和意大利蜜蜂蜂王刚出房、性成熟时期以及婚飞过程中体表信息素含量变化。【结果】研究结果表明:中华蜜蜂性成熟蜂王在飞行过程中,其体表9-ODA含量显著高于刚出房蜂王,9-HDA显著高于刚出房蜂王和性成熟蜂王;意大利蜜蜂飞行蜂王在9-ODA含量也显著高于刚出房蜂王。另外,意大利蜜蜂性成熟期蜂王在9-ODA、9-HDA、10-HDA含量显著高于中华蜜蜂蜂王,而两蜂种蜂王体表信息素在婚飞时期差异不显著。【结论】同种蜂王不同发育时期,其体表信息素含量存在差异;中华蜜蜂蜂王与意大利蜂王在婚飞过程中,其体表信息素差异不显著,但部分体表信息素在性成熟而未进行婚飞时差异显著。     

蜜蜂化学生态学化学通讯与信息素研究进展

概括了蜜蜂化学生态学的主要研究内容和领域,重点评述了蜂群内的化学通讯和蜜蜂信息素研究的进展。迄今,已经鉴定的蜂王信息素有９－氧化－（反）－２－癸烯酸（９－ＯＤＡ）,Ｒ（一）－９－羟基癸烯酸Ｒ（一）－９ＨＤＡ）,Ｓ（＋）－９－羟基癸烯酸（Ｓ（＋）－９ＨＤＡ）,对－羟基苯甲酸甲酯（ＨＯＢ）和４－羟基－３－甲本基乙醇（ＨＶＡ）等５种;工蜂那氏信息互膛牛醇,橙花醇,（反,反）－法尼醇,（反）柠檬醛,（顺）     

东西方蜜蜂亲缘行为关系研究取得新进展

东方蜜蜂和西方蜜蜂是2个不同的种,二者的亲缘关系很近,但是二者的蜂王和幼虫均具有不同的遗传物质和气味信息素,蜜蜂的气味信息素对蜜蜂的社会行为和行为方式起到非常重要的作用。建立东方蜜蜂和西方蜜蜂的混合饲养蜂群,为研究东方蜜蜂和西方蜜蜂这2个近缘物种间的相互关系提供了一个很好的模式。近日,中国科学院西双版纳热带植物园协同进化组的高级访问学者谭垦教授等,通过测试和分析东方蜜蜂蜂王和西方蜜蜂蜂王的蜂王信息素主要成分的组成和差异,研究蜂王在混合饲养蜂群内对异种工蜂卵巢发育的抑制作用,并探讨了当混合蜂群失去蜂王后,2种工蜂对异种蜜蜂卵和幼虫气味的识别和反应机制。     

不同授粉方式对设施西瓜授粉效果研究

为了探究不同方式组建授粉蜂群的授粉效率,利用意大利蜜蜂Apis mellifera蜂王上颚腺信息素(Queen mandibular pheromone, QMP)替代蜂群内的真正蜂王组建授粉蜂群给“日本新秀”西瓜授粉,比较有王群(Queenright)、无王群(Queenless)、假王群(QMP+queenless)和人工授粉(Hand pollinated)4种不同授粉方式对设施西瓜授粉后的产量、品质和蜂群采集活动及蜂群损失情况差异,以此验证利用蜂王上颚腺信息素替代蜂王组建蜂群为设施西瓜授粉的可行性。结果表明：假王群采集活动趋势可与有王群保持一致,两者蜂群损耗、出巢、回巢和带粉回巢的采集蜂数显著高于无王群;有王群和假王群授粉西瓜平均产量均显著高于无王群和人工授粉。有王群、假王群和无王群处理的西瓜果实种子饱子数均显著高于人工授粉。且有王群和假王群西瓜的可溶性固形物含量显著高于无王群和人工授粉处理。综上所述,使用蜂王上颚腺信息素替代蜂王组建小型授粉蜂群为设施西瓜授粉切实可行,该研究为设施作物授粉提供了新的思路和方法,也拓展了昆虫信息素在农业系统中的重要利用价值。     

蜜蜂上颚腺及其分泌物研究进展

上颚腺是蜜蜂重要的外分泌腺体,其分泌物是维系蜂群社会性结构的重要物质。蜂王和工蜂上颚腺分泌物合成均以硬脂酸为合成前体,但在脂肪酸的β-氧化过程中表现出级型差异性,导致分泌物组分比例不同。蜂王上颚腺分泌物以9-羰基-2癸烯酸(9-ODA)为主,有吸引工蜂和雄蜂、抑制工蜂卵巢发育等作用;工蜂上颚腺分泌物以10-羟基-2癸烯酸(10-HDA)和10-羟基癸酸(10-HDAA)为主,是蜂王浆的重要组成部分。同时,这种具备典型级型差异的分泌物组成又具有级型间可塑性,在不同蜂种间也存在区别。近年来在转录水平和蛋白水平的一些研究进一步揭示了级型间差异的分子基础。针对蜜蜂上颚腺及其分泌物的研究在蜜蜂生物学、行为学和蜂产品质量控制等方面具有重要的意义。本文通过总结国内外相关研究进展,旨在为上颚腺分泌物的作用机制、生物合成机制等领域的进一步深入研究提供借鉴。     

中华蜜蜂信息素结合蛋白OBP10的基因克隆、原核表达和配基结合特性分析

【目的】气味结合蛋白在中华蜜蜂Apis cerana cerana嗅觉系统中起到重要作用,本实验拟研究中华蜜蜂一个新的信息素结合蛋白OBP10及其与蜜蜂信息素以及蜜源开花植物挥发物的结合特性。【方法】本实验通过RT-PCR扩增获得OBP10基因全长(Gen Bank登录号:KP717060.1),以p ET-30a构建原核表达载体,并以Ni2+琼脂糖柱进行重组蛋白表达和分离纯化,在N-苯基-1-萘胺(N-phenyl-1-naphthylamine,1-NPN)作为荧光报告子下利用荧光光谱法体外研究重组Acer OBP10与多种候选化学配基的结合特征。【结果】经多序列联配分析,发现Acer OBP10的多个同源基因均为信息素结合蛋白(pheromone binding proteins,PBPs)。配基结合特性分析显示,Acer OBP10对14种候选配基中的蜂王信息素成分对羟基苯甲酸甲酯(HOB)竞争力最大,相对荧光可降至6.06%,解离常数11.04μmol/L;进一步表明Acer OBP10属于一个新的中蜂PBPs。此外,Acer OBP10也能和包括工蜂信息素(香叶醇和橙花醇)、报警信息素(2-庚酮和乙酸异戊酯)等蜜蜂信息素以及蜜源开花植物挥发物之一的β-紫罗兰酮结合,表明Acer OBP10可能是一种以信息素结合为主的多功能结合蛋白。【结论】Acer OBP10是中蜂一个新的信息素结合蛋白,与此前我们鉴定的蜂王信息素结合蛋白Acer ASP1相比,Acer OBP10对蜜蜂信息素的结合谱更为广泛,这些结果将对进一步研究中华蜜蜂信息素识别和传递提供理论基础,对于深入了解中华蜜蜂嗅觉影响生理功能的行为机制具有重要意义。     

不同组配的蜜蜂信息素对中华蜜蜂生产及繁殖性能的影响

【目的】为了探究蜜蜂信息素对中华蜜蜂Apis cerana cerana的生产及繁殖性能的影响。【方法】以蜂蜡为载体,选择4种蜂王上颚腺信息素（9-ODA:9-HDA:HOB:HVA）与蜜蜂幼虫饥饿信息素（β-罗勒烯）按照一定比例组配了4种强蜂素挂片（T1-1组、T1-2组、T2-1组、T2-2组）,同时设置一个纯蜂蜡挂片作为空白对照组（CK组）。将2种组配强蜂素（T1-1、T1-2）分别置于特殊密闭容器瓶中,15、30和45 d后用捕集针抽取密闭容器瓶气体,利用气相-质谱联用系统测定2种组配强蜂素（T1-1、T1-2）中β-罗勒烯挥发含量。并系统研究了4种组配强蜂素对无王群急造王台以及对有王群的蜂蜜产量、群势和封盖子数影响。【结果】在15、30和45 d时,2种组配强蜂素中β-罗勒烯挥发量差异不显著（P> 0.05）,即2种组配强蜂素中β-罗勒烯都能稳定释放;与对照组相比,T1-2组封盖王台出现时间显著延迟（P<0.05）,推迟时间2.17d,但4个实验组间出现封盖王台出现时间差异不显著（P>0.05）;T1-1组蜂蜜产量和封盖子数显著高于对照组（P <0.05）,蜂蜜产量和封盖子数量分别30.18%和30.00%;T1-2组蜂群群势显著强于对照组（P <0.05）,提高群势25.15%;4个实验组间蜂蜜产量、封盖子数和蜂群群势都差异不显著（P> 0.05）。【结论】不同组配的蜜蜂信息素对中华蜜蜂生产及繁殖性能都有积极作用,为进一步在养蜂生产中推广蜜蜂信息素产品提供了理论支撑。     

幼虫信息素中三种酯类对中华蜜蜂和意大利蜜蜂工蜂哺育和封盖行为以及蜂王发育影响

为研究蜜蜂幼虫信息素中3种酯类成分（甲基棕榈酸酯、乙基棕榈酸酯和乙基油酸酯）对中华蜜蜂Apis cerana cerana和意大利蜜蜂Apis mellifera ligustica工蜂哺育行为、封盖行为以及蜂王发育影响, 在人造蜂蜡王台中加入1%和0.1%（w/w）的3种酯类作为实验组, 以不添加酯类（0%）的为对照组, 移入1日龄工蜂幼虫, 测定王台接受率、单个王台中幼虫和王浆重量; 另将分别添加1%和0.1%（w/w）3种酯类的石蜡假幼虫放入工蜂巢房中, 同样设对照组, 测定假幼虫的封盖率; 在新鲜王浆中以1%和0.1%（w/w）分别加入3种酯类作为实验组, 以不添加酯类（0%）的作为对照组, 再分别在1日龄、2日龄和3日龄幼虫王台中加入0.01 mL含有酯类的蜂王浆, 并测定蜂王初生重和卵巢管数量。结果表明: 0.1%甲基棕榈酸酯可以显著提高中蜂和意蜂幼虫重量; 意蜂的甲基棕榈酸酯和乙基油酸酯两个实验组(1.0%, 0.1%)假幼虫封盖率都极显著高于对照组; 乙基油酸酯两个实验组(1.0%, 0.1%)都显著降低了中蜂和意蜂蜂王初生重和卵巢管数量。这说明不同蜜蜂幼虫信息素具有不同的生物学效应。     

Movement of honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) queen mandibular gland pheromone in populous and unpopulous colonies

The mode of intranest transfer of the honey bee queen mandibular gland pheromone complex (QMP) was investigated in unpopulous and populous, slightly congested colonies, using synthetic QMP containing tritiated 9-keto-2(E)-decenoic acid, one of the QMP components. Radiolabel was rapidly transported from the center to the peripheral regions of the nest, and in a manner consistent with worker to worker transport. Population size and congestion had no effect on the relative rates of movement from the center to the periphery of the nest or on the mean amounts of radiolabel on individual bees. However, a significantly smaller proportion of the workers in the populous colonies received detectable amounts of radiolabel than in the uncongested colonies, and workers carrying especially large amounts of radiolabel were less numerous in the crowded colonies. It is suggested that, at the stage of colony development that the colonies were in, population size has more of an effect on intranest pheromone transmission than does crowding. Interference with pheromone transfer may occur only at higher levels of congestion than were created, and nearer to the reproductive phase of colony development. An alternative hypothesis is that colony crowding does not significantly affect QMP transport and that the onset of reproductive queen rearing may be associated more with changes in worker thresholds of response to QMP.     

Queen attendance behavior of worker honey bees (Apis mellifera L.) that are high and low responding to queen mandibular pheromone

Summary Queen attendance behavior of workers from selected honey bee colonies with high and low worker retinue response to synthetic queen mandibular gland pheromone (QMP) was investigated. Antennating, licking, grooming, and feeding of the queen by workers from high and low responding colonies were examined. High and low QMP responding workers did not attend the queen differently. However, workers originating from different colonies antennated and licked the queen more frequently than others, suggesting there may be a genetic basis for queen attendance behavior not necessarily associated with response to QMP. The median age of queen attendance was independent of strain.     

Wild genius - domestic fool? Spatial learning abilities of wild and domestic guinea pigs

Background

In social insects, the queen is essential to the functioning and homeostasis of the colony. This influence has been demonstrated to be mediated through pheromone communication. However, the only social insect for which any queen pheromone has been identified is the honey bee (Apis mellifera) with its well-known queen mandibular pheromone (QMP). Although pleiotropic effects on colony regulation are accredited to the QMP, this pheromone does not trigger the full behavioral and physiological response observed in the presence of the queen, suggesting the presence of additional compounds. We tested the hypothesis of a pheromone redundancy in honey bee queens by comparing the influence of queens with and without mandibular glands on worker behavior and physiology.

Results

Demandibulated queens had no detectable (E)-9-oxodec-2-enoic acid (9-ODA), the major compound in QMP, yet they controlled worker behavior (cell construction and queen retinue) and physiology (ovary inhibition) as efficiently as intact queens.

Conclusions

We demonstrated that the queen uses other pheromones as powerful as QMP to control the colony. It follows that queens appear to have multiple active compounds with similar functions in the colony (pheromone redundancy). Our findings support two hypotheses in the biology of social insects: (1) that multiple semiochemicals with synonymous meaning exist in the honey bee, (2) that this extensive semiochemical vocabulary exists because it confers an evolutionary advantage to the colony.     

Suppression of queen rearing in European and Africanized honey beesApis mellifera L. by synthetic queen mandibular gland pheromone

Summary Queen rearing is suppressed in honey bees (Apis mellifera L.) by pheromones, particularly the queen's mandibular gland pheromone. In this study we compared this pheromonally-based inhibition between temperate and tropically-evolved honey bees. Colonies of European and Africanized bees were exposed to synthetic queen mandibular gland pheromone (QMP) for ten days following removal of resident queens, and their queen rearing responses were examined. Queen rearing was suppressed similarly in both European and Africanized honey bees with the addition of synthetic QMP, indicating that QMP acts on workers of both races in a comparable fashion. QMP completely suppressed queen cell production for two days, but by day six, cells containing queen larvae were present in all treated colonies, indicating that other signals play a role in the suppression of queen rearing. In queenless control colonies not treated with QMP, Africanized bees reared 30% fewer queens than Europeans, possibly due to racial differences in response to feedback from developing queens and/or their cells. Queen development rate was faster in Africanized colonies, or they selected older larvae to initiate cells, as only 1 % of queen cells were unsealed after 10 days compared with 12% unsealed cells in European colonies.     

Dose-dependent inhibition of emergency queen rearing by synthetic 9-ODA in the honey bee,Apis mellifera carnica

In the honey bee colony queen rearing is usually suppressed by releaser effects of the queen's pheromone. This is part of the dominance hierarchy maintaining the monogynous homeostasis. Under queenless conditions, the queen's control over the construction of emergency queen cells by the workers can be substitued by exposure to only one component of the mandibular pheromone secretion of a queen, the main compound (E)-9-oxo-2-decenoic acid. A novel and simple synthesis of (E)-9-oxo-2-decenoic acid is described, and a bioassay was developed by which a dose-dependent effect of synthetic (E)-9-oxo-2-decenoic acid presented on a dummy bee was evaluated.Abbreviation 9-ODA (E)-9-oxo-2-decenoic acid In memoriam Viktor Schwartz (1907–1992), Professor of Zoology and Developmental Biology, University of Tübingen, who introduced smoothened bee stings into microsurgery     

Variation in worker response to honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) queen mandibular pheromone (Hymenoptera: Apidae)

Genetic and environmental influences on the worker honey bee retinue response to queen mandibular gland pheromone (QMP) were investigated. Worker progeny were reared from queens originating from four sources: Australia, New Zealand, and two locations in British Columbia, Canada (Simon Fraser University and Vancouver Island). Progeny from New Zealand queens responded significantly higher (P < 0.05) than progeny from Australia in a QMP retinue bioassay. Retinue response was not related to queen production of pheromone or colony environment, and the strain-dependent differences in retinue bioassay responses were maintained over a wide range of dosages. Selected high- and low-responding colonies were bioassayed over the course of 1 year. High-responding colonies contacted QMP lures more frequently than low-responding colonies (P < 0.05) throughout the year except in late summer. We conclude that there is a strong genetic component to QMP response by worker honey bees, as well as a seasonal effect on response.     

Quantum chemical study on the stability of honeybee queen pheromone against atmospheric factors

The managed honeybee, Apis mellifera, has been experienced a puzzling event, termed as colony collapse disorder (CCD), in which worker bees abruptly disappear from their hives. Potential factors include parasites, pesticides, malnutrition, and environmental stresses. However, so far, no definitive relationship has been established between specific causal factors and CCD events. Here we theoretically test whether atmospheric environment could disturb the chemical communication between the queen and their workers in a colony. A quantum chemistry method has been used to investigate for the stability of the component of A. mellifera queen mandibular pheromone (QMP), (E)-9-keto-2-decenoic acid (9-ODA), against atmospheric water and free radicals. The results show that 9-ODA is less likely to react with water due to the high barrier heights (~36.5 kcal?·?mol^?1) and very low reaction rates. However, it can easily react with triplet oxygen and hydroxyl radicals because of low or negative energy barriers. Thus, the atmospheric free radicals may disturb the chemical communication between the queen and their daughters in a colony. Our pilot study provides new insight for the cause of CCD, which has been reported throughout the world.     

Queen pheromones affecting the production of queen-like secretion in workers

The honeybee queen pheromones promote both worker sterility and worker-like pheromone composition; in their absence workers become fertile and express the queen pheromones. Which of the queen pheromones regulate worker pheromone expression and how, is still elusive. Here we investigated how two queen pheromones, the mandibular and Dufour’s, singly or combined, affect worker ovarian activation and occurrence of queen-like Dufour’s esters. Although queen mandibular pheromone (QMP) alone, or combined with Dufour’s secretion, inhibited to some extent worker reproduction, neither was as effective as the queen. The effect of the queen pheromones on worker pheromone expression was limited to workers with developed ovaries. Here too, QMP and Dufour’s combined had the greatest inhibitory effect. In contrast, treatment with Dufour’s alone resulted in augmentation of esters in the workers. This is another demonstration that a pheromone emitted by one individual affects the rates of its production in another individual. Ester production was tightly coupled to ovarian development. However fertile workers from queenright or QMP-treated colonies had significantly higher amounts of esters in their Dufour’s gland than untreated queenless colonies. The fact that the queen or QMP exert greater suppression on signal production than on ovary activation, suggests disparate regulatory pathways, and presents a challenging ultimate as well as proximate questions.