Epigenetic modification of gene expression in honey bees by heterospecific gland secretions.

ABSTRACT:

Background

In the honey bee (Apis mellifera), queen and workers have different behavior and reproductive capacity despite possessing the same genome. The primary substance that leads to this differentiation is royal jelly (RJ), which contains a range of proteins, amino acids, vitamins and nucleic acids. MicroRNA (miRNA) has been found to play an important role in regulating the expression of protein-coding genes and cell biology. In this study, we characterized the miRNAs in RJ from two honey bee sister species and determined their possible effect on transcriptome in one species.

Methodology/principal findings

We sequenced the miRNAs in RJ either from A. mellifera (RJM) or A. cerana (RJC). We then determined the global transcriptomes of adult A. mellifera developed from larv

SUBMITTER: Shi YY 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3424160 | biostudies-literature | 2012

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature