Dataset Information

Investigating the Regulation of Hypopharyngeal Gland Activity in Honeybees Undergoing Harsh Winter Conditions through RNA-seq Transcriptomics Combined with iTRAQ-based Comparative Proteomics

ABSTRACT: The honeybee model organism, Apis mellifera carnica, is a hymenopteran with a remarkable ability to withstand cold winters by instinctively entering into hibernation in the hive. Hibernation is characterized by a significant reduction in the metabolic rate, triggered by a drop in the ambient temperature and a shortage of reserves. It provides a token cue that initiates an alternative developmental program that leads to dormancy and switches social behaviors. The age-dependent changes in the generic proteins and substance composition of royal jelly (RJ) have been well documented. However, the molecular mechanism of RJ secretion and the biological consequences of regulation by the hypopharyngeal gland (HG) according to the season remain to be addressed. In this study, large-scale transcriptomic and proteomic approaches were used to detect statistically significant changes in the honeybee proteome and to explore the mechanistic basis for the HG regulation that accompanies hibernation in the winter and arousal in the spring. HG activity was associated with hundreds of gene and protein expression changes in the winter-spring cycle. A systematic study of HG activity and secretion identified 21,441 genes and 2,156 proteins at three time points (i.e., A, winter bees; B, spring bees; and C, retired bees). Of these, 737 genes and 698 proteins were qualified and compared to reveal differential expression patterns, including 197 up-regulated and 291 down-regulated DEGs in group A vs. B, 118 up-regulated and 259 down-regulated DEGs in group A vs. C, and 106 up-regulated and 53 down-regulated DEGs in group B vs. C, respectively. The results were validated by qPCR.Honeybee HG activity was associated with multiple genes regulation.The results present the first global pictures of the regulation of HG activity in winter bee.

ORGANISM(S): Apis mellifera

PROVIDER: GSE56910 | GEO | 2017/12/31

SECONDARY ACCESSION(S): PRJNA244920

REPOSITORIES: GEO

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Project description:Hibernation is energy saving adaptation involving suppression of activity to survive in highly seasonal environments. Immobility and disuse generate muscle loss in most mammalian species. In contrast to other mammals, bears and ground squirrels demonstrate limited muscle atrophy over the physical inactivity of winter hibernation. This suggests that hibernating mammals have adaptive mechanisms to prevent disuse muscle atrophy. To identify common transcriptional program underlying molecular mechanisms preventing muscle loss, we conducted a large-scale gene expression screening in hind limb muscles comparing hibernating and summer active black bears and arctic ground squirrels by the use of custom 9,600 probe cDNA microarrays. The molecular pathway analysis showed an elevated proportion of overexpressed genes involved in all stages of protein biosynthesis and ribosome biogenesis in muscle of both species during hibernation that implies induction of translation at different hibernation states. The induction of protein biosynthesis likely contributes to attenuation of disuse muscle atrophy through prolonged periods of immobility and starvation. This adaptive mechanism allows hibernating mammals to maintain full musculoskeletal function and preserve mobility during and immediately after hibernation, thus promoting survival. The lack of directional changes in genes of protein catabolic pathways does not support the importance of metabolic suppression for preserving muscle mass during winter. Coordinated reduction of multiply genes involved in oxidation reduction and glucose metabolism detected in both species is consistent with metabolic suppression and lower energy demand in skeletal muscle during inactivity of hibernation. Black bears sampled during winter hibernation were compared with the animals sampled during summer. Muscle tissue were hybridized on a custom 12,800 cDNA probe nylon membrane microarray platform . Six hibernating and six summer active bears were studied in the experiment.

Project description:Hibernation is energy saving adaptation involving suppression of activity to survive in highly seasonal environments. Immobility and disuse generate muscle loss in most mammalian species. In contrast to other mammals, bears and ground squirrels demonstrate limited muscle atrophy over the physical inactivity of winter hibernation. This suggests that hibernating mammals have adaptive mechanisms to prevent disuse muscle atrophy. To identify common transcriptional program underlying molecular mechanisms preventing muscle loss, we conducted a large-scale gene expression screening in hind limb muscles comparing hibernating and summer active black bears and arctic ground squirrels by the use of custom 9,600 probe cDNA microarrays. The molecular pathway analysis showed an elevated proportion of overexpressed genes involved in all stages of protein biosynthesis and ribosome biogenesis in muscle of both species during hibernation that implies induction of translation at different hibernation states. The induction of protein biosynthesis likely contributes to attenuation of disuse muscle atrophy through prolonged periods of immobility and starvation. This adaptive mechanism allows hibernating mammals to maintain full musculoskeletal function and preserve mobility during and immediately after hibernation, thus promoting survival. The lack of directional changes in genes of protein catabolic pathways does not support the importance of metabolic suppression for preserving muscle mass during winter. Coordinated reduction of multiply genes involved in oxidation reduction and glucose metabolism detected in both species is consistent with metabolic suppression and lower energy demand in skeletal muscle during inactivity of hibernation. Arctic ground squirrels sampled during winter hibernation were compared with the animals sampled during summer. Muscle was hybridized on a custom 9,600 probes nylon membrane microarray platform. Ten in late torpor, four in early arousal, then in late arousal were studied in experiments.

Dataset Information

Investigating the Regulation of Hypopharyngeal Gland Activity in Honeybees Undergoing Harsh Winter Conditions through RNA-seq Transcriptomics Combined with iTRAQ-based Comparative Proteomics

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