Expressions of conventional vitellogenin and vitellogenin‐like A in worker brains are associated with a nursing task in a ponerine ant. Issue 1 (12th November 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Miyazaki, S.; Shimoji, H.; Suzuki, R.; Chinushi, I.; Takayanagi, H.; Yaguchi, H.; Miura, T.; Maekawa, K.
• Is Part Of: Insect molecular biology. Volume 30:Issue 1(2021)
• Page Start: 113
• Page End: 121
• Publication Date: 2020-11-12
• Subjects: division of labour -- reverted nurse -- vitellogenin -- vitellogenin‐like A -- ponerine ant; Insects -- Molecular aspects -- Periodicals; 595.7
• DOI: 10.1111/imb.12682
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0962-1075

Abstract

Abstract: In eusocial insect colonies, non‐reproductive workers often perform different tasks. Tasks of an individual worker are shifted depending on various factors, e.g., age and colony demography. Although a vitellogenin ( Vg ) gene play regulatory roles in both reproductive and non‐reproductive division of labours in a honeybee, it has been shown that the insect Vg underwent multiple gene duplications and sub‐functionalisation, especially in apical ant lineages. The regulatory roles of duplicated Vgs were suggested to change evolutionarily among ants, whereas such roles in phylogenetically basal ants remain unclear. Here, we examined the expression patterns of conventional Vg ( CVg ), Vg‐like A, Vg‐like B and Vg‐like C, as well as Vg receptor, during the task shift in an age‐dependent manner and under experimental manipulation of colony demography in a primitive ant Diacamma sp. Expressions of CVg and Vg‐like A in a brain were associated with a nursing task. It is suggested that associations of brain expressions of these Vgs with worker tasks were acquired in the basal ant lineage, and that such Vg functions could have sub‐functionalised in the derived ant lineage. Abstract : In a ponerine ant Diacmma sp., vitellogenin genes ( CVg and Vg‐like A ) were expressed in worker brains and abdomens, but downregulated in association with the task shift from nursing to foraging during age polyethism. When their tasks were forced to shift in the opposite direction, the expressions of these genes were upregulated in brains. The association between these vitellogenin expressions and the worker tasks is suggested to be acquired in the basal ant lineage.