Institute of Evolutionary Genetics, Heinrich-Heine University, Düsseldorf 40225, Germany.
Behavioral Physiology and Sociobiology (Zoology II), Biocenter, University of Würzburg, 97074 Würzburg, Germany.
Sci Adv. 2024 Nov;10(44):eadp3953. doi: 10.1126/sciadv.adp3953. Epub 2024 Nov 1.
The evolutionary changes from solitary to eusocial living in vertebrates and invertebrates are associated with the diversification of social interactions and the development of queen and worker castes. Despite strong innate patterns, our understanding of the mechanisms manifesting these sophisticated behaviors is still rudimentary. Here, we show that () manifests group-supporting behaviors in the honeybee () worker caste. Computer-based individual behavioral tracking of worker bees with biallelic stop mutations in colonies revealed that the gene is required for the rate and duration of group-supporting behavior that scales the relationship between bees and their work. General sensorimotor functions remained unaffected. Unexpectedly, unlike in other insects, the gene is required for the neuronal wiring of the mushroom body in which the gene is spatially restricted expressed. Together, our study establishes dedicated programming for group-supporting behaviors and provides insight into the connection between development in the neuronal circuitry and behaviors regulating the formation of a eusocial society.
在脊椎动物和无脊椎动物中，从独居到群居生活的进化变化与社会互动的多样化以及蜂王和工蜂等级的发展有关。尽管存在强烈的先天模式，但我们对表现这些复杂行为的机制的理解仍然很初级。在这里，我们表明，在蜜蜂工蜂等级中，（）表现出群体支持行为。在具有双等位基因停止突变的群体中，基于计算机的工蜂个体行为跟踪显示，（）基因是群体支持行为的速度和持续时间所必需的，这种行为与蜜蜂及其工作之间的关系成比例。一般的感觉运动功能仍然没有受到影响。出乎意料的是，与其他昆虫不同，（）基因对于蘑菇体的神经元连接是必需的，而基因在蘑菇体中被空间限制表达。总之，我们的研究为群体支持行为建立了专门的编程，并深入了解了神经元电路发育与调节群居社会形成的行为之间的联系。
