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Oxytocin‐like signaling in ants influences metabolic gene expression and locomotor activity
Author(s) -
Liutkevičiūte Zita,
GilMansilla Esther,
Eder Thomas,
CasillasPérez Barbara,
Di Giglio Maria Giulia,
Muratspahić Edin,
Grebien Florian,
Rattei Thomas,
Muttenthaler Markus,
Cremer Sylvia,
Gruber Christian W.
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fj.201800443
Subject(s) - library science , biological sciences , physiology , biology , computer science , computational biology
Ants are emerging model systems to study cellular signaling because distinct castes possess different physiologic phenotypes within the same colony. Here we studied the functionality of inotocin signaling, an insect ortholog of mammalian oxytocin (OT), which was recently discovered in ants. In Lasius ants, we determined that specialization within the colony, seasonal factors, and physiologic conditions down‐regulated the expression of the OT‐like signaling system. Given this natural variation, we interrogated its function using RNAi knockdowns. Next‐generation RNA sequencing of OT‐like precursor knock‐down ants highlighted its role in the regulation of genes involved in metabolism. Knock‐down ants exhibited higher walking activity and increased self‐grooming in the brood chamber. We propose that OT‐like signaling in ants is important for regulating metabolic processes and locomotion.—Liutkevičiūtė, Z., Gil‐Mansilla, E., Eder, T., Casillas‐Pérez, B., Di Giglio, M. G., Muratspahić, E., Grebien, F., Rattei, T., Muttenthaler, M., Cremer, S., Gruber, C. W. Oxytocin‐like signaling in ants influences metabolic gene expression and locomotor activity. FASEB J. 32, 6808–6821 (2018). www.fasebj.org