微小RNA ame-miR-31a和ame-miR-13b在意大利蜜蜂哺育蜂和采集蜂脑部的表达差异

Expression difference of microRNAs ame-miR-31a and ame-miR-13b in brains of nurses and foragers of Apis mellifera ligustica (Hymenoptera: Apidae)

【目的】研究微小RNA ame-miR-31a和ame-miR-13b在意大利蜜蜂Apis mellifera ligustica哺育蜂和采集蜂脑部的表达情况,探索其在蜜蜂哺育蜂和采集蜂行为转变中的调节作用。【方法】利用qPCR分别检测ame-miR-31a和ame-miR-13b在意大利蜜蜂工蜂正常蜂群和同龄蜂群中哺育蜂和采集蜂脑部的表达量。【结果】不论在意大利蜜蜂工蜂正常蜂群中还是在同龄蜂群中,ame-miR-31a在哺育蜂脑部的表达量总是显著高于其在采集蜂脑部的表达量;在正常蜂群中,ame-miR-13b在采集蜂脑部的表达量显著高于其在哺育蜂脑部中的表达量;在同龄蜂群中,ame-miR-13b在年老哺育蜂脑部的表达量极显著高于其在同龄采集蜂脑部的表达量,在年轻哺育蜂脑部与同龄年轻采集蜂脑部的表达量差异不显著。【结论】ame-miR-13b在意大利蜜蜂哺育蜂和采集蜂脑部的表达没有明显规律,而ame-miR-31a总是在哺育蜂脑部高表达,提示ame-miR-31a在蜜蜂哺育蜂和采集蜂行为转变中可能发挥重要的调控作用。

【Aim】 This study aims to detect the expression differences of microRNAs ame-miR-31a and ame-miR-13b in brains of nurses and foragers of Apis mellifera ligustica and to explore their regulation function in the behavioral transition between nurses and foragers of honeybee.【Methods】 The expression levels of ame-miR-31a and ame-miR-13b in brains of nurses and foragers from both typical colonies and single-cohort colonies of A.m.ligustica workers were detected by qPCR.【Results】 ame-miR-31a showed significantly higher expression level in brains of nurses than in brains of foragers in both the typical colonies and single-cohort colonies of A.m.ligustica workers,while ame-miR-13b showed significantly higher expression level in brains of foragers than in brains of nurses in the typical colonies.In the single-cohort colonies,ame-miR-13b had extremely significantly higher expression level in brains of old nurses than in brains of foragers at the same age,but showed no significant difference in the expression level between young nurses and young foragers.【Conclusion】 The expression of ame-miR-13b shows no distinct pattern in brains of nurses and foragers of A.m.ligustica,while ame-miR-31a shows significantly higher expression level in brains of nurses,suggesting that ame-miR-31a may play an important role in regulating the behavioral transition between nurses and foragers.