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Differential expression of HR38 in the mushroom bodies of the honeybee brain depends on the caste and division of labor
Author(s) -
Yamazaki Yurika,
Shirai Kenichi,
Paul Rajib Kumar,
Fujiyuki Tomoko,
Wakamoto Akiko,
Takeuchi Hideaki,
Kubo Takeo
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
febs letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.593
H-Index - 257
eISSN - 1873-3468
pISSN - 0014-5793
DOI - 10.1016/j.febslet.2006.04.016
Subject(s) - mushroom bodies , biology , ecdysteroid , division of labour , gene , complementary dna , gene expression , genetics , signal transduction , insect , transcription factor , microbiology and biotechnology , botany , drosophila melanogaster , larva , economics , market economy
We used a cDNA microarray to identify genes expressed in a caste (worker)‐ and division of labor (nurse bees or foragers)‐dependent manner in the honeybee brain. Among the identified genes, one encoded a putative orphan receptor (HR38) homologue that mediates ecdysteroid‐signaling. Real‐time reverse transcription‐polymerase chain reaction indicated that expression of this gene is higher in forager brains, as compared to nurse bees and queens. In the forager brain, expression was concentrated in a subset of the mushroom body neurons, suggesting that ecdysteroid‐signaling in the mushroom bodies might be involved in the division of labor of the workers.