摘要
蜜蜂Apis spp.能有效地为多种植物及农作物授粉,具有重要的经济和生态价值;蜜蜂作为高度真社会性昆虫,已成为社会生物学研究的模式生物。社会性昆虫的生殖劳动分工具有重要的进化意义,而级型分化是形成生殖劳动分工的基础。近年来,关于蜜蜂级型分化的研究已取得诸多重要成果,其机理也得到了较为深入的阐释。营养差异引发蜜蜂幼虫的级型分化。蜂王浆中的主要蛋白组分之一———Royalactin是诱导蜂王发育的关键营养因子,而脂肪体细胞的表皮生长因子受体介导了Royalactin的这种蜂王诱导作用。DNA甲基化是重要的表观遗传机制之一,且与个体发育和疾病发生紧密相关,近来的研究表明DNA甲基化在蜜蜂级型分化过程中发挥重要的调控作用。此外,越来越多的研究进一步深化了人们对内分泌系统调节级型分化作用的认识。本文从关键营养因子调控、表观遗传调控和内分泌调节3方面综述蜜蜂级型分化的机理,并对未来的研究提出可能的方向。
Because of the efficient pollination for are of great value in economy and ecology. As many natural plants and crops, honey bees （Apis spp. a highly eusocial insect, the honey bee has become model organism in sociobiology. The reproductive division of labor, based on the caste differentiation in social insects is of great significance in evolution. Many important findings about honey bee caste differentiation have been obtained in recent years, and the mechanisms underpinning this process were well elucidated. Different nutritional stimuli trigger the caste differentiation of honey bee larvae. Royalactin, a major protein component of royal jelly, is found to be the key nutritional factor inducing queen development. The queen inducing function of royalactin is mediated by the epidermal growth factor receptors （Egfr） in fat body cells. DNA methylation, one of the important epigenetic mechanisms, is associated with the development and disease of vertebrates. Recently, it is evident that DNA methylation is also involved into the regulation of honey bee caste differentiation. Moreover, more and more findings have deepened people＇ s understanding of the important regulation roles of endocrine system in the caste differentiation. In this article, we reviewed the mechanisms of honey bee caste differentiation from three aspects, i. e., the key nutritional factors, epigenetic regulation, and endocrine modulation. We also proposed several directions for future studies in this area.
出处
《昆虫学报》
CAS
CSCD
北大核心
2014年第2期248-256,共9页
Acta Entomologica Sinica
基金
现代农业产业技术体系建设专项(CARS-45-KXJ3)
国家自然科学基金项目(31340061)
