文献类型： 外文期刊

作者： Li, Beibei ¹ ; Hou, Li ² ; Zhu, Dan ² ; Xu, Xilian ³ ; An, Shiheng ¹ ; Wang, Xianhui ² ;

作者机构： 1.Henan Agr Univ, Coll Plant Protect, Zhengzhou 450002, Henan, Peoples R China

2.Chinese Acad Sci, Inst Zool, Beijing 100101, Peoples R China

3.Beijing Acad Agr & Forestry Sci, Inst Plant & Environm Protect, Beijing 100097, Peoples R China

期刊名称：SCIENTIFIC REPORTS （ 影响因子：4.379； 五年影响因子：5.133 ）

ISSN： 2045-2322

年卷期： 2018 年 8 卷

页码：

收录情况： SCI

摘要： DNA methylation has been proposed to play critical roles in caste fate and behavioral plasticity in bumblebees, however, there is little information on its regulatory mechanisms. Here, we identified six important genes mediating the modification of DNA methylation and determined their expression patterns in the bumblebee Bombus terrestris. There is a complete functional DNA methylation system, including four DNA methyltransferases (DNMT1a, DNMT1b, DNMT2, and DNMT3), a DNA demethylase (Ten-eleven translocation), and a methyl-CpG-binding domain protein in B. terrestris. Most of these genes were highly expressed in fat bodies and gonads but lowly expressed in antennae and brains of bumblebee adults. Besides, these genes exhibited caste-specific expression patterns in bumblebees, with higher transcription levels in queens than workers and drones. Whereas their expression levels showed no remarkable difference in queenright and queenless workers. These results suggested potential roles of DNA methylation-related genes in caste differentiation in bumblebees.