Shotgun proteomics deciphered age/division of labor-related functional specification of three honeybee (Apis mellifera L.) exocrine glands

PLoS One. 2018 Feb 15;13(2):e0191344. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0191344. eCollection 2018.

Abstract

The honeybee (Apis mellifera L.) uses various chemical signals produced by the worker exocrine glands to maintain the functioning of its colony. The roles of worker postcerebral glands (PcGs), thoracic glands (TGs), and mandibular glands (MGs) and the functional changes they undergo according to the division of labor from nursing to foraging are not as well studied. To comprehensively characterize the molecular roles of these glands in workers and their changes according to the division of labor of workers, we analyzed the proteomes of PcGs, TGs, and MGs from nurse bees and foragers using shotgun proteomics technology. We identified approximately 2000 proteins from each of the nurse bee or forager glands and highlighted the features of these glands at the molecular level by semiquantitative enrichment analyses of frequently detected, gland-selective, and labor-selective proteins. First, we found the high potential to produce lipids in PcGs and MGs, suggesting their relation to pheromone production. Second, we also found the proton pumps abundant in TGs and propose some transporters possibly related to the saliva production. Finally, our data unveiled candidate enzymes involved in labor-dependent acid production in MGs.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Age Factors
  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Bees / genetics*
  • Bees / metabolism
  • Behavior, Animal / physiology
  • Exocrine Glands / cytology
  • Exocrine Glands / metabolism
  • Exocrine Glands / physiology*
  • Insect Proteins / metabolism
  • Pheromones / metabolism
  • Proteome / metabolism
  • Proteomics / methods*

Substances

  • Insect Proteins
  • Pheromones
  • Proteome

Grants and funding

This work was supported by the Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B) (grant number: 26291068) and Scientific Research on Innovative Areas (grant number: 16H06578) from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) of Japan. T. F. was the recipient of a Grant-in-Aid from Japan Society for the Promotion of Science for young scientists (no. 11J10223). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.