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

生物胺是可以作为脊椎动物和无脊椎动物的神经系统功能和行为的调节剂的化合物。 章鱼胺是其中之一，也是节肢动物中研究最广泛的神经调质之一。 在蜜蜂中，章鱼胺在控制行为可塑性方面发挥作用。 离开蜂巢觅食的蜜蜂大脑中的章鱼胺水平高于在蜂巢内工作的护士蜜蜂，章鱼胺治疗导致蜜蜂早熟觅食。 一种特殊的酶，酪胺β-羟化酶（TbH）对章鱼胺的生物合成至关重要，因此章鱼胺的大脑水平至少部分取决于TbH的活性。 该合作项目使用分子，生物化学和行为方法来确定TbH如何受社会和内分泌因素的调节。 酶活性、基因表达和代谢生物化学阐明了在蜜蜂行为变化的发展过程中，章鱼胺是如何在蜜蜂大脑的触角叶中合成和释放的。 结果将是重要的，以了解一个重要的神经调节剂是如何调节的行为可塑性的背景下，在社会调控的基因表达。 这项工作的影响将超越神经内分泌学，对动物行为和农业应用产生影响。 在参与合作的主要本科院校，学生培训也是一个重要组成部分。

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.