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Notch signalling mediates reproductive constraint in the adult worker honeybee

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  • Elizabeth J. Duncan

    (Laboratory for Evolution and Development, Genetics Otago and Gravida (The National Centre for Growth and Development), University of Otago
    Present address: Department of Biological Sciences, School of Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK.)

  • Otto Hyink

    (Laboratory for Evolution and Development, Genetics Otago and Gravida (The National Centre for Growth and Development), University of Otago)

  • Peter K. Dearden

    (Laboratory for Evolution and Development, Genetics Otago and Gravida (The National Centre for Growth and Development), University of Otago)

Abstract

The hallmark of eusociality is the reproductive division of labour, in which one female caste reproduces, while reproduction is constrained in the subordinate caste. In adult worker honeybees (Apis mellifera) reproductive constraint is conditional: in the absence of the queen and brood, adult worker honeybees activate their ovaries and lay haploid male eggs. Here, we demonstrate that chemical inhibition of Notch signalling can overcome the repressive effect of queen pheromone and promote ovary activity in adult worker honeybees. We show that Notch signalling acts on the earliest stages of oogenesis and that the removal of the queen corresponds with a loss of Notch protein in the germarium. We conclude that the ancient and pleiotropic Notch signalling pathway has been co-opted into constraining reproduction in worker honeybees and we provide the first molecular mechanism directly linking ovary activity in adult worker bees with the presence of the queen.

Suggested Citation

  • Elizabeth J. Duncan & Otto Hyink & Peter K. Dearden, 2016. "Notch signalling mediates reproductive constraint in the adult worker honeybee," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 7(1), pages 1-10, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:7:y:2016:i:1:d:10.1038_ncomms12427
    DOI: 10.1038/ncomms12427
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