Spatiotemporal Expression Levels Of The Chemosensory Proteins Inlarval-pupal Stage And Adult Apis Mellifera Ligustica Workers

As a eusocial insect,the honey bee(Apis mellifera ligustica)is one of the best model for people to explore the complex behavior of insects.Chemonsensory protein(CSPs)is one kind of soluble small protein,which widely exists in the antennas and other chemical sensor of insects,plays an important role in the chemoreception system.Up to now,six CSPs have been discovered in the honey bees,but the specific function is still obscure in the bees.In this study,we studied the spatiotempotal expression levels of the six chemosensory proteins in larval-pupal stage and adult workers of the honeybee,Apis mellifera ligustica.Expression levels of six CSPs(Amel-CSP1,Amel-CSP2,Amel-CSP3,Amel-CSP4,Amel-CSP5 and Amel-CSP6)in larval stage,pupal stage and different organs of nurses and foragers,and in the antennaes of 1,6,12,18 and 28 day-old workers,were quantified with RT-qPCR.The main results of this study are as follows:1.Temporal expression levels of six CSPs in the beesAmel-CSP1 had the highest expression level in 28 day-old workers(forager),lowest in 1 day-old workers.The expression of Amel-CSP2 in antennae of adult bees decreased along with the increasing age of the adult bees.Amel-CSP3 and Amel-CSP1 had the similar expression pattern.The expression pattern of Amel-CSP4 and Amel-CSP6 is similar to that of Amel-CSP2.The expression of Amel-CSP5 is relatively stable,showed no temporal specificity.2.Spatial expression levels of six CSPs in the beesThe expression of Amel-CSP1 had a high degree in the antennae and heads of adult workers,but showed a low expression in the larva,pupa,thorax,abdomen and legs.The Amel-CSP1 expression in antennae was significantly higher than in others organs.Amel-CSP2 expressed highly in antennae,but lowly in other parts.Amel-CSP3 had a high expression level in larval stage,pupal stage and different organs of nurses and foragers.Amel-CSP4 only expressed in antennae.Amel-CSP5 had low expression in all part of the honeybees.Amel-CSP6 and Amel-CSP3 bothhad a high expression level in larval stage,pupal stage and different organs of nurses and foragers.All the CSPs detected in our study had had a high degree of spatiotemporal specificity in adult Apis mellifera ligustica workers,except Amel-CSP5.Our resultsprovides important information for exploring the function of chemosensory proteins,in A.m.ligustica.