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Notch signaling does not regulate segmentation in the honeybee, Apis mellifera

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Abstract

Notch signaling has been implicated in the segmentation of vertebrates but is not involved in segmentation in Drosophila. Recent evidence, however, implies that Notch signaling regulates segmentation in some Arthropods, including an insect, and that Notch signaling regulated segmentation in the common ancestor of Vertebrates and Arthropods. Notch signaling regulates clock-like formation of segments in both groups, a phenomenon not seen in Drosophila. We present evidence that Notch signaling components are expressed in a pattern implying a role in segmentation in honeybees, where the expression of genes involved in segmentation are modulated in a temporal way. Despite this, pharmacological investigation and RNA interference experiments indicate that Notch signaling does not regulate segmentation in honeybees, but instead regulates patterning within segments after segmentation itself has occurred. Notch signaling thus does not regulate segmentation in holometabolous insects, even when segments appear to form in anterior−posterior sequence.

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Acknowledgements

The authors wish to thank N. Kenny, E. Duncan and S. Morgan for critical comments on this manuscript. We would also like to thank Betta Bees Research LTD for bee supply and support. This work was funded by a Royal Society of New Zealand Marsden Grant to PKD (UOO0401).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory for Evolution and Development, Biochemistry Department, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand

    Megan J. Wilson, Benjamin H. McKelvey & Susan van der Heide

  2. Laboratory for Evolution and Development, National Research Centre for Growth and Development and Genetics Otago Biochemistry Department, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand

    Peter K. Dearden

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  1. Megan J. Wilson
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  2. Benjamin H. McKelvey
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  3. Susan van der Heide
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  4. Peter K. Dearden
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Peter K. Dearden.

Additional information

Communicated by S. Roth

MJW carried out RNAi injections and analysis, BHMcK cloned Am-Delta and Am-Notch. SvdH assisted with pharmacological experiments. PKD conceived the study, cloned Am-fringe, carried out pharmacological investigation, in-situ hybridization, and phylogenetics and wrote the paper.

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Wilson, M.J., McKelvey, B.H., van der Heide, S. et al. Notch signaling does not regulate segmentation in the honeybee, Apis mellifera . Dev Genes Evol 220, 179–190 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00427-010-0340-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00427-010-0340-6

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