Collaborative Research: Octopamine-Mediated Behavioral Development in Honey Bees --Social and Endocrine Regulation of Tyramine Beta Hydroxylase

生物胺是一种可以调节脊椎动物和无脊椎动物神经系统功能和行为的化合物。章鱼胺就是其中之一，也是节肢动物中研究最广泛的神经调节剂之一。在蜜蜂中，章鱼胺在控制行为可塑性方面发挥着作用。与在蜂巢内工作的看护蜂相比，离开蜂巢去觅食的觅食蜂大脑中章鱼胺的含量更高，用章鱼胺治疗会导致蜜蜂早熟地觅食。一种特殊的酶，酪胺-羟化酶（TbH）对章鱼胺的生物合成至关重要，因此大脑中章鱼胺的水平至少部分取决于TbH的活性。这个合作项目使用分子、生物化学和行为方法来确定TbH是如何受到社会和内分泌因素的调节的。酶活性、基因表达和代谢生物化学阐明了在行为变化的发展过程中，章鱼胺是如何在蜜蜂的大脑触角叶中合成和释放的。研究结果对于理解一种重要的神经调节剂是如何在行为可塑性和社会调节基因表达的背景下被调节的非常重要。这项工作将对神经内分泌学以外的动物行为和农业应用产生影响。在以本科生为主的院校进行学生培训也是合作的一个重要组成部分。

Biogenic amines are compounds that can act as modulators of nervous system function and behavior in vertebrates and invertebrates. Octopamine is one of these, and one of the most widely studied neuromodulators in arthropods. In honeybees, octopamine plays a role in controlling behavioral plasticity. Levels of octopamine are higher in the brains of forager bees that leave the hive to get food compared to levels in nurse bees that work inside the hive, and treatment with octopamine causes bees to forage precociously. A particular enzyme, tyramine beta-hydoxylase (TbH) is critical for biosynthesis of octopamine, so brain levels of octopamine depend at least in part on the activity of TbH. This collaborative project uses molecular, biochemcial and behavioral approaches to determine how TbH is regulated by both social and endocrine factors. Enzyme activity, gene expression, and metabolic biochemistry clarify how octopamine is synthesized and released in the antennal lobes of the brain of honeybees during development of the behavioral change. Results will be important to understanding how an important neuromodulator is regulated in the context of behavioral plastiticty and in socially regulated gene expression. This work will have impact beyond neuroendocrinology to animal behavior and to agricultural applications. There is also an important component of student training at the predominantly undergraduate institution involved in the collaboration.