Abstract
In honeybees, age-associated structural modifications can be observed in the mushroom bodies. Prominent examples are the synaptic complexes (microglomeruli, MG) in the mushroom body calyces, which were shown to alter their size and density with age. It is not known whether the amount of intracellular synaptic proteins in the MG is altered as well. The presynaptic protein Bruchpilot (BRP) is localized at active zones and is involved in regulating the probability of neurotransmitter release in the fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster. Here, we explored the localization of the honeybee BRP (Apis mellifera BRP, AmBRP) in the bee brain and examined age-related changes in the AmBRP abundance in the central bee brain and in microglomeruli of the mushroom body calyces. We report predominant AmBRP localization near the membrane of presynaptic boutons within the mushroom body MG. The relative amount of AmBRP was increased in the central brain of two-week old bees whereas the amount of Synapsin, another presynaptic protein involved in the regulation of neurotransmitter release, shows an increase during the first two weeks followed by a decrease. In addition, we demonstrate an age-associated modulation of AmBRP located near the membrane of presynaptic boutons within MG located in mushroom body calyces where sensory input is conveyed to mushroom body intrinsic neurons.We discuss that the observed age-associated AmBRP modulation might be related to maturation processes or to homeostatic mechanisms that might help to maintain synaptic functionality in old animals.
Highlights
Chemical synapses are responsible for signal transmission in the nervous system of animals
In a BLAST analysis, we explored the homology between the last 200 amino acids of Drosophila melanogaster BRP proteins and Apis mellifera homologous BRP proteins (NP_001242968.1, XP_006561572.1, XP_006561571.1) and ensured that no other protein containing the epitope of the BRPlast200 antibody was found in the appropriate honeybee databases
Apis mellifera BRP (AmBRP) variants detected in the honeybee brain
Summary
Chemical synapses are responsible for signal transmission in the nervous system of animals. Their pre- and postsynaptic structures are altered during aging and these alterations are thought to underlie an age-dependent decline of cognitive function [1, 2]. Age-dependent synaptic alterations can be observed in presynaptic terminals as well as in postsynaptic spines of both vertebrates and invertebrates [3] and might be a consequence of evolving long-lived. Age-associated increase of AmBRP in MB boutons. 1363 Biogenic amines in insects: coordination of physiological processes and behavior. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript
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