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Conserved cellular signals and mechanisms accompany the reproductive shutdown of honey bee (Apis mellifera) queens for dispersal

ABSTRACT: Temporal reproductive plasticity is a central life-history trait for most iteroparous animals, yet its underlying molecular mechanisms remain poorly understood. We utilize the reversible reproductive arrest experienced by honey bee queens during colony swarming to investigate how these reproductive specialists dynamically adapt their physiology. We demonstrate that pre-swarming nutritional restriction triggers a resource reallocation, whereby ovarian mass declines as flight muscle function is enhanced, providing empirical support for a flight-fecundity trade-off. This transition is accompanied by elevated juvenile hormone and suppressed ecdysteroid and vitellogenin levels, together with the engagement of three spatially distinct oogenesis checkpoints. These checkpoints engage programmed cell death pathways: autophagy predominates in germarial stem cells and follicle cells, while apoptosis is the primary mechanism in vitellarium oocytes and nurse cells, collectively orchestrating oogenesis arrest. Integrated whole-transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses revealed broad molecular remodeling, including changes in FoxO-, Notch-, Wnt-, and Hippo-related signatures that accompanied oogenesis suppression. Our results indicate a “nutrition–hormone–checkpoint–programmed cell death” model that links colony-level swarming to individual ovary suppression. This work provides a systematic framework for understanding the molecular regulation of the reversible reproductive plasticity of honey bee queens.

INSTRUMENT(S): Liquid Chromatography MS - negative - reverse-phase, Liquid Chromatography MS - positive - reverse-phase

PROVIDER: MTBLS14234 | MetaboLights | 2026-04-09

REPOSITORIES: MetaboLights

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			Action	DRS
	a_MTBLS14234_LC-MS_negative_reverse-phase.txt	Txt
	a_MTBLS14234_LC-MS_positive_reverse-phase.txt	Txt
	i_Investigation.txt	Txt
	m_MTBLS14234_LC-MS_negative_reverse-phase_v2_maf.tsv	Tabular
	m_MTBLS14234_LC-MS_positive_reverse-phase_v2_maf.tsv	Tabular

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Project description:Background The number of managed honey bee colonies has considerably decreased in many developed countries in recent years and the ectoparasitic mites are considered as major threats to honey bee colonies and health. However, their general biology remains poorly understood. Results We sequenced the genome and transcriptomes of Tropilaelaps mercedesae, the prevalent ectoparasitic mite infesting honey bees in Asia. The de novo assembled genome sequence (353 Mb) represents 53% of the estimated genome size because of the compression of repetitive sequences; nevertheless, we predicted 15,190 protein-coding genes which were well supported by the mite transcriptomes and proteomic dataes. Although amino acid substitutions have been accelerated within the conserved core genes in of two mites, T. mercedesae and Metaseiulus occidentalis, T. mercedesae has undergone the least gene family expansion and contraction between the seven arthropods we tested. The number of sensory system genes has been dramatically reduced; meanwhile, T. mercedesae may have evolved a specialized cuticle and water homeostasis mechanisms, as well as epigenetic control of gene expression for ploidy compensation between males and females., and water homeostasis. T. mercedesae contains all gene sets required to detoxify xenobiotics, enabling it to be miticide resistant. T. mercedesae is closely associated with a symbiotic bacteriuma (Rickettsiella grylli-like) and DWVdeformed wing virus (DWV), the most prevalent honey bee virus. The presence of DWV in both adult male and female mites was also confirmed by the proteomic analysis. Conclusions T. mercedesae has a very specialized life history and habitat as the ectoparasitic mite strictly dependsing on the honey bee inside the a stable colony. Thus, comparison of the genome and transcriptome sequences with those of a tick and free-living mites and tick has revealed the specific features of the genome shaped by interaction with the honey bee and colony environment. T. mercedesae, as well as Varroa destructor, genome and transcriptome sequences not only provide insights into the mite biology, but may also help to develop measures to control the most serious pests of the honey bee.

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Conserved cellular signals and mechanisms accompany the reproductive shutdown of honey bee (Apis mellifera) queens for dispersal

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