Chemical detection of the proteins and lipids in the fat body cells from workers of Attini ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

Roma, Gislaine Cristina; Bueno, Odair Corrêa; Camargo‐Mathias, Maria Izabel

doi:10.1016/j.cellbi.2007.12.010

Cited by 9 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 25 publications

(22 reference statements)

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“…Regarding the ultrastructure of oenocytes, a well-developed lamellar rough endoplasmic reticulum was observed in C. rimosus . Th is suggests that these cells may synthesize proteins, supporting cytochemical and ultrastructural studies reporting the presence of protein granules in their cytoplasm (Roma et al, 2008 ). On the other hand, our fi ndings contradict studies reporting that oenocytes are characterized mainly by extensive areas of smooth endoplasmic reticulum, due to the synthesis of ecdysteroids (Dean et al, 1985 ), as this organelle was not observed in the present study.…”

Section: Nucleuscontrasting

confidence: 73%

Ultrastructural analysis of the fat body in workers of Attini ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

Roma¹,

Bueno

Camargo‐Mathias³

2009

Animal Biol

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In the present study a comparative morphological analysis of the fat body cells of ant workers of the basal Attini species Cyphomyrmex rimosus and Mycetarotes parallelus , and the derived species Acromyrmex disciger and Atta laevigata was conducted. Th e results revealed that the fat body is located mainly in the abdomen around organs (perivisceral) and near the integument (parietal). Th e main cells observed are spherical or polygonal trophocytes with a slightly rough surface. Th e oenocytes, another cell type found, are closely associated with trophocytes, and present a spherical or polygonal shape and a smoother surface. Th e morphometric analysis showed that the area of trophocytes and oenocytes of C. rimosus and M. parallelus is signifi cantly smaller when compared to those of A. disciger and A. laevigata . In the cytoplasm of parietal and perivisceral trophocytes and oenocytes, electronlucent droplets (probably lipids) and electrondense granules (probably proteins) indicate the participation of these cells in the storage of these elements, while digestive vacuoles, residual bodies, and multivesicular bodies suggest a role in intracellular digestion. In perivisceral trophocytes and oenocytes of C. rimosus , the presence of mitochondria, lamellar rough endoplasmic reticulum, and Golgi complex suggests that these cells synthesize proteins. Based on these data, no signifi cant diff erences were observed between the fat body cells of basal and derived ants, except regarding the larger size of trophocytes and oenocytes of the derived species A. disciger and A. laevigata .

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“…Pupal oenocytes had prominent SER and numerous bundles of vesicles. It can be inferred that these vesicles corresponded to lipid droplets that were abundantly found in the D. melanogaster larval oenocytes (Gutierrez et al, 2007) and in adult ant oenocytes (Camargo-Mathias and Caetano, 1996;Roma et al, 2008). These two organelles have been associated with the oenocyte lipid metabolism and storage in the caterpillar Calpodes ethlius (Lepidoptera) (Locke, 1969) and in adults of T. molitor (Coleoptera) (Romer et al, 1974), S. gregaria (Orthoptera) (Diehl, 1973(Diehl, , 1975 and B. germanica (Blattaria) (Fan et al, 2003).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Isolation, primary culture and morphological characterization of oenocytes from Aedes aegypti pupae

et al. 2011

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Oenocytes are ectodermic cells that participate in a number of critical physiological roles such as detoxification and lipid storage and metabolism in insects. In light of the lack of information on oenocytes from Aedes aegypti and the potential role of these cells in the biology of this major yellow fever and dengue vector, we developed a protocol to purify and maintain Ae. aegypti pupa oenocytes in primary culture. Ae. aegypti oenocytes were cultured as clustered and as isolated ovoid cells with a smooth surface. Our results demonstrate that these cells remain viable in cell culture for at least two months. We also investigated their morphology in vivo and in vitro using light, confocal, scanning and transmission electron microscopes. This work is the first successful attempt in isolating and maintaining Ae. aegypti oenocytes in culture, and a significant step towards understanding the role of this cell type in this important disease vector. The purification and the development of primary cultures of insect oenocytes will allow future studies of their metabolism in producing and secreting compounds.

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“…In addition, due to the presence of intercellular spaces, the exchange surface of various compounds, which are necessary primarily during the flight and should quickly reach the appropriate tissues (e.g. muscles) 28 , 57 , increases in workers. This is most likely one of the evolutionary adaptations of workers to their hive-internal versus hive-external tasks.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Segmentation of the subcuticular fat body in Apis mellifera females with different reproductive potentials

Strachecka

Olszewski

Kuszewska

et al. 2021

Sci Rep

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Evolution has created different castes of females in eusocial haplodiploids. The difference between them lies in their functions and vulnerability but above all in their reproductive potentials. Honeybee queens are highly fertile. On the other hand, the workers are facultatively sterile. However, rebel workers, i.e. workers that develop in a queenless colony, reproduce more often than normal workers. As a result, the fat body of these bees, which apart from acting as the energy reserve, is also the site of numerous metabolic processes, had to specialize in different functions perfected over millions of years of eusocial evolution. Assuming that the variety of functions manifests itself in the pleomorphic structure of the fat body cells, we predicted that also different parts of the fat body, e.g. from different segments of the abdomen, contain different sets of cells. Such differences could be expected between queens, rebels and normal workers, i.e. females with dramatically different reproductive potentials. We confirmed all these expectations. Although all bees had the same types of cells, their proportion and segmental character corresponded with the caste reproductive potential and physiological characteristics shaped in the evolutionary process. The females with an increased reproductive potential were characterized by the presence of oenocytes in the third tergite and high concentrations of compounds responsible for energy reserves, like glucose, glycogen and triglycerides. Queens had very large trophocytes, especially in the third tergite. Only in workers did we observe intercellular spaces in all the segments of the fat body, as well as high protein concentrations—especially in the sternite. As expected, the rebels combined many features of the queens and normal workers, what with other findings can help understand the ways that led to the origin of different castes in females of eusocial Hymenoptera.

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“…The fat body supplies essential proteins required by other organs, such as yolk proteins for oogenesis ( Telfer, 1961 ; Roth and Porter, 1964 ; Pan et al, 1969 ; Hagedorn and Fallon, 1973 ), collagen IV for imaginal discs ( Pastor-Pareja and Xu, 2011 ) and xanthine dehydrogenase for eye pigmentation ( Reaume et al, 1989 ). Proteins synthesized and/or stored in the fat body of ants were found in the cuticle and eggshell ( Roma et al, 2006 , 2008 ). Our findings suggest that Serp should be added to the increasing repertoire of proteins that the fat body supplies to other organs.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

A fat body-derived apical extracellular matrix enzyme is transported to the tracheal lumen and is required for tube morphogenesis in Drosophila

2014

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The apical extracellular matrix plays a central role in epithelial tube morphogenesis. In the Drosophila tracheal system, Serpentine (Serp), a secreted chitin deacetylase expressed by the tracheal cells plays a key role in regulating tube length. Here, we show that the fly fat body, which is functionally equivalent to the mammalian liver, also contributes to tracheal morphogenesis. Serp was expressed by the fat body, and the secreted Serp was taken up by the tracheal cells and translocated to the lumen to functionally support normal tracheal development. This process was defective in rab9 and shrub/vps32 mutants and in wild-type embryos treated with a secretory pathway inhibitor, leading to an abundant accumulation of Serp in the fat body. We demonstrated that fat body-derived Serp reached the tracheal lumen after establishment of epithelial barrier function and was retained in the lumen in a chitin synthase-dependent manner. Our results thus reveal that the fat body, a mesodermal organ, actively contributes to tracheal development.

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“…The expression levels of the newly mated queen were analysed by RNA-seq with the P. lamellidens reference assembly, and these analyses were performed for queens without rubbing behaviour (nonrubbing behaviour) and queens with rubbing behaviour to the host workers for three days (rubbing 3d), or queens that were isolated from the hosts for nine days after rubbing behaviour was observed (isolation 9d). There are five CHC synthesis-related genes (Figure 4A), and these were expressed on the oenocytes that are contained in the abdomen fat body (Koto et al, 2019;Martins & Ramalho-Ortigao, 2012;Roma et al, 2006Roma et al, & 2008Thiele & Camargo-Mathias, 2003). Fatty acid synthase is involved in the biosynthesis of CHC precursors, desaturase and elongase in the construction of CHC varieties (it is involved in extending the chain length and inserting double bonds), and fatty acyl-CoA reductase and cytochrome P450 decarbonylase are involved in the final modification of CHC.…”

Section: Gene and Protein Expression Profilingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Molecular evidence of chemical disguise by the socially parasitic spiny ant Polyrhachis lamellidens (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) when invading a host colony

Iwai

Mori

Tomita

et al. 2022

Preprint

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While most ant species establish a colony independently, some socially parasitic ants build the foundation of their colony by invading other ant (host) colonies and utilizing their labour forces. Many socially parasitic ants disguise their cuticular hydrocarbon (CHC) profile, which is also known as nestmate discrimination pheromones, when invading the host colony. Since the strategy of chemical disguise is widespread in socially parasitic ants, elucidating the mechanism of chemical disguise will promote knowledge on the evolutionary history of social parasitism. However, detailed knowledge is still lacking, as the relevant information has only originated from circumstantial evidence, which was obtained from ecological observations. In this study, we investigated the mechanism of chemical disguise in a new queen of a temporary socially parasitic spiny ant (Polyrhachis lamellidens) by measuring its CHC profile, performing a tracing assay with labelled substances, and analysing gene expression levels. First, after rubbing behaviour was observed against the host workers, the CHC profile in P. lamellidens shifted to pronounced peaks that closely resembling that of the host workers. We also observed a reduction in aggressive behaviours by the host ant against P. lamellidens after rubbing behaviour was performed. In addition, P. lamellidens acquired artificially-applied labelling substances from host workers through their rubbing behaviours, while gene expression profiling showed the expression of CHC synthesis-related genes did not change during this behaviour. These results suggest that P. lamellidens directly obtains host CHCs through rubbing behaviour, and these host CHCs enables P. lamellidens to remain disguised during colony invasion.

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Chemical detection of the proteins and lipids in the fat body cells from workers of Attini ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

Cited by 9 publications

References 25 publications

Ultrastructural analysis of the fat body in workers of Attini ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

Isolation, primary culture and morphological characterization of oenocytes from Aedes aegypti pupae

Segmentation of the subcuticular fat body in Apis mellifera females with different reproductive potentials

A fat body-derived apical extracellular matrix enzyme is transported to the tracheal lumen and is required for tube morphogenesis in Drosophila

Molecular evidence of chemical disguise by the socially parasitic spiny ant Polyrhachis lamellidens (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) when invading a host colony

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