Vitellogenin in the honey bee brain: atypical localization of a reproductive protein that promotes longevity.

Vitellogenin in the honey bee brain: atypical localization of a reproductive protein that promotes longevity.
Exp Gerontol. 2015 Aug 5;
Authors: Münch D, Ihle KE, Salmela H, Amdam GV
Abstract
In comparative gerontology, highly social insects such as honey bees (Apis mellifera) receive much attention due to very different and flexible aging patterns among closely related siblings. While experimental strategies that manipulate socio-environmental factors suggest a causative link between aging and social signals and behaviors, the molecular underpinnings of this linkage are less well understood. Here we study the atypical localization of the egg-yolk protein Vitellogenin (Vg) in the brain of the honey bee. Vg is known to influence honey bee social regulation and aging rate. Our findings suggest that Vg immunoreactivity in the brain is specifically localized within the class of non-neuronal glial cells. We discuss how these results can help explain the socially-dependent aging rate of honey bees.
PMID: 26254745 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Source: Experimental Gerontology - August 5, 2015 Category: Geriatrics Authors: Münch D, Ihle KE, Salmela H, Amdam GV Tags: Exp Gerontol Source Type: research