Identification of kakusei, a Nuclear Non-Coding RNA, as an Immediate Early Gene from the Honeybee, and Its Application for Neuroethological Study

• Main Authors: Taketoshi Kiya, Atsushi Ugajin, Takekazu Kunieda, Takeo Kubo
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2012-11-01
• Series: International Journal of Molecular Sciences
• Subjects: honeybee; kakusei; immediate early gene; insect; brain; non-coding RNA; foraging behavior; dance communication; Japanese honeybee; hot defensive bee ball formation
• Online Access: http://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/13/12/15496
• ISSN: 1422-0067

The honeybee is a social insect that exhibits various social behaviors. To elucidate the neural basis of honeybee behavior, we detected neural activity in freely-moving honeybee workers using an immediate early gene (IEG) that is expressed in a neural activity-dependent manner. In European honeybees (Apis mellifera), we identified a novel nuclear non-coding RNA, termed kakusei, as the first insect IEG, and revealed the neural activity pattern in foragers. In addition, we isolated a homologue of kakusei, termed Acks, from the Japanese honeybee (Apis cerana), and detected active neurons in workers fighting with the giant hornet.