Selection and validation of RT-qPCR reference genes for multi-tissue gene expression normalization in two honeybee subspecies across post-emergence developmental stages.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The western honeybee (Apis mellifera) represents a pivotal model organism for investigating social organization and phenotypic plasticity. Behavioral specialization in worker bees induces tissue-specific molecular adaptations, particularly in sensory and secretory tissues. Although real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) has been extensively employed to quantify gene expression dynamics in these tissues, systematic evaluation of optimal reference genes for RT-qPCR data normalization remains undressed.

Results

We systematically assessed nine candidate reference genes across three tissues (antennae, hypopharyngeal glands, and brains) in adult honeybees at three developmental stages (newly emerged bees, nurses, and foragers) from two subspecies (A. m. ligustica and A. m

SUBMITTER: Liu X 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12465390 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature