Abstract
Iron granules containing superparamagnetic magnetite act as magnetoreceptor for magnetoreception in honey bees. Biomineralization of iron granules occurs in the iron deposition vesicles of trophocytes and requires the participation of actin, myosin, ferritin2, and ATP synthase. The mechanism of magnetoreception in honey bees can be explored by suppressing the formation of iron granules. Toward this goal, we injected double-stranded RNA of ferritin2 and ferritin1 into newly emerged worker honey bees to knock down these genes via RNA interference. We confirmed that mRNA and protein production of the ferritins was inhibited, leading to immature iron granules. Downregulating ferritin2 and ferritin1, moreover, leads to different deposition morphology of 7.5-nm diameter iron particles, indicating that the two genes play different roles in the formation of iron granules in worker honey bees.
Highlights
Magnetoreception is a sense allowing an animal to detect the earth’s magnetic field to establish regional magnetic maps for navigation and positioning
iron granules (IGs) are present in the iron deposition vesicles (IDVs) of trophocytes which are located in the abdomen of honey bees[11]
IGs are derived from the aggregation of 7.5-nm diameter iron particles in the center of IDVs. 7.5-nm diameter iron particles are formed in the cloudy area beneath the inner membrane of IDVs11
Summary
Magnetoreception is a sense allowing an animal to detect the earth’s magnetic field to establish regional magnetic maps for navigation and positioning. The magnetoreception of honey bees is further demonstrated by the finding of superparamagnetic magnetite in iron granules (IGs)[9,10]. The changes in the IG’s confirmation by magnetic fields is posited to generate Ca2+ signals and signal transduction via fluctuation of cytoskeletons on iron deposition vesicles (IDVs)[10]. These events can allow honey bees to establish a magnetic map during orientation flights to facilitate future foraging behavior[10]. In honey bees (Apis mellifera), the heavy chain is called ferritin[1] or Fer1HCH and the light chain is called ferritin[2] or Fer2LCH. The technique developed here may be used to further explore magnetoreception in honey bees
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