The influence of combinations of encoded amino acids on associative learning in the honeybee Apis mellifera L.

Lopatina, N. G.; Zachepilo, T. G.; Kamyshev, N. G.; Chalisova, N. I.

doi:10.1134/s1234567817020045

Cited by 3 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 15 publications

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“…However, none of these studies analysed how these amino acids influence the performance of associative learning of a gustatory nature. Previous reports did show an improvement in STM (Chalisova et al, 2011;Lopatina et al, 2017). In the present study, an improved response with both concentrations of L-arginine was found; however, differences were not significant, even though the P-value was close to the alpha level (P=0.065).…”

Section: Effects Of Single Compounds On Learningcontrasting

confidence: 60%

“…The chemical compounds used to prepare the different treatments (see Table 1) were caffeine (Caff ) and L-arginine (Arg) (Sigma-Aldrich, Steinheim, Germany). To prepare the different solutions, we considered the caffeine and L-arginine concentrations previously used in honeybee learning studies (Chalisova et al, 2011;Wright et al, 2013;Lopatina et al, 2017). In the case of caffeine, the concentrations used are within the range found in natural nectars (Kretschmar and Baumann, 1999;Wright et al, 2013).…”

Section: Study Site Animals and Chemical Compoundsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In honeybees, it participates in the synthesis of nitric oxide, which is involved in downstream mechanisms that prolong the activity of cAMPdependent PKA, and therefore promotes protein synthesis during LTM formation and other cellular processes that require such synthesis (Müller, 1996(Müller, , 1997. Furthermore, arginine seems to have effects on the formation of short-term memory (STM) in bees if it is administered at a concentration of 0.001 mmol l −1 (Chalisova et al, 2011;Lopatina et al, 2017). Although arginine is considered an essential amino acid, insects can synthesize it, although with some difficulty, so they must incorporate it through food (House, 1965).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Combined secondary compounds naturally found in nectars enhance honeybee cognition and survival

Marchi

Palottini

Farina

2021

Journal of Experimental Biology

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The alkaloid caffeine and the amino acid arginine are present as secondary compounds in nectars of some flower species visited by pollinators. Each of these compounds affects honeybee appetitive behaviors by improving its foraging activity and learning. While caffeine potentiates responses of mushroom body neurons involved in honeybee learning processes, arginine acts as precursor of nitric oxide enhancing the protein synthesis involved in memory formation. Despite existing evidence on how these compounds affect honeybee cognitive abilities individually, the effect of their mixtures on this matter is still unknown. We evaluated acquisition and memory retention in classical olfactory conditioning procedure, in which reward (sucrose solution) contained traces of caffeine, arginine or mixtures of both. The results indicate that the presence of the single compounds and their most concentrated mixture increases bees’ learning performance. However, memory retention, measured at short- and long-term, increases significantly only in those treatments offering mixtures in the reward. Additionally, the most concentrated mixture triggers a significant survival rate in the conditioned bees. Thus, some nectar compounds, when combined, show synergistic effects on cognitive abilities and survival in an insect.

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Section: Effects Of Single Compounds On Learningcontrasting

confidence: 60%

Section: Study Site Animals and Chemical Compoundsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Combined secondary compounds naturally found in nectars enhance honeybee cognition and survival

Marchi

Palottini

Farina

2021

Journal of Experimental Biology

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“…The three essential amino acids were: (1) Lysine (Lys), crucial for memory consolidation, and found in larval saliva; (2) Tryptophan (Trp), present in wasp larval saliva; (3) Arginine (Arg), pivotal in memory consolidation in bees, serving as a precursor to ornithine. While the three non-essential amino acids were: (4) Ornithine (Orn), contributing to memory consolidation in bees; (5) Aspartic acid (Asp), playing a fundamental role in synthesizing Arginine and Lysine; (6) Glycine (Gly), a metabolic fuel in hornet, is present in wasps larval saliva (Hunt et al, 1982; Lopatina et al, 2017; Pratavieira et al, 2019; Marchi et al, 2021; Bodner et al, 2022). For the learning protocol (see below), we dissolved all amino acids in deionized water at a concentration of 10 mg/ml.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Chemotactile perception and associative learning of amino acids in yellowjacket workers

Mattiacci,

Pietrantuono,

Masciocchi

et al. 2023

Preprint

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Learning and memory are essential for animal survival, influencing preferences, decision-making, and foraging behaviour. In this study, we explore the perceptual and learning abilities ofVespula germanica(yellowjacket wasps) to various amino acids. We hypothesize thatV. germanicacan qualitatively evaluate various amino acid solutions, given their scavenging habits and the possibility of metabolizing amino acids to fuel energy. Through chemo-tactile differential conditioning, we studied worker wasp’ maxilla labium extension response (MaLER) to essential (Lysine, Tryptophan, Arginine) and non-essential amino acids (Ornithine, Aspartic acid, Glycine). Conditioning sessions included individual amino acids against water and comparisons between different amino acids. Additionally, we tested retention, discrimination, and generalization abilities, 30 minutes later with conditioned and novel stimuli. Our results show that wasps exhibit the ability to learn and discriminate various amino acids. The discrimination capacity extended to differentiating between pairs of amino acids. Memory retention was generally robust, but certain associations observed during conditioning did not persist after a 30-minute interval. Moreover, when wasps were trained with essential amino acids, the acquired learning did not generally extend to other non-essential amino acids, except for Arginine, which exhibited generalization when tested with its precursor, Ornithine. Conversely, when trained with non-essential amino acids, the acquired learning generalized to other essential amino acids. These results suggest that, unlike other hymenopterans, wasps can detect, discriminate, and generalize free amino acids, crucial for their foraging decisions. This knowledge contributes to understanding the cognitive dimensions ofV. germanicaand their implications for targeted pest management.Summary statementThis study onVespula germanica’s amino acid perception enhances our understanding of foraging behaviours. The findings contribute to insect cognition studies, with potential implications for pest management.

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“…In honeybees, it is involved in the synthesis of nitric oxide (NO) an important signaling molecule in LTM formation and other cellular processes 30 , 31 . Furthermore, the administration of arginine in a concentration of 0.001 mM can affect short-term memory (STM) processing in bees 16 , 32 .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Learning of a mimic odor combined with nectar nonsugar compounds enhances honeybee pollination of a commercial crop

Estravis-Barcala

Palottini

Farina

2021

Sci Rep

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The increasing demand on pollination services leads food industry to consider new strategies for management of pollinators to improve their efficiency in agroecosystems. Recently, it was demonstrated that feeding beehives food scented with an odorant mixture mimicking the floral scent of a crop (sunflower mimic, SM) enhanced foraging activity and improved recruitment to the target inflorescences, which led to higher density of bees on the crop and significantly increased yields. Besides, the oral administration of nonsugar compounds (NSC) naturally found in nectars (caffeine and arginine) improved short and long-term olfactory memory retention in conditioned bees under laboratory conditions. To test the effect of offering of SM-scented food supplemented with NSC on honeybees pollinating sunflower for hybrid seed production, in a commercial plantation we fed colonies SM-scented food (control), and SM-scented food supplemented with either caffeine, arginine, or a mixture of both, in field realistic concentrations. Their foraging activity was assessed at the hive and on the crop up to 90 h after treatment, and sunflower yield was estimated prior to harvest. Our field results show that SM + Mix-treated colonies exhibited the highest incoming rates and densities on the crop. Additionally, overall seed mass was significantly higher by 20% on inflorescences close to these colonies than control colonies. Such results suggest that combined NSC potentiate olfactory learning of a mimic floral odor inside the hive, promoting faster colony-level foraging responses and increasing crop production.

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The influence of combinations of encoded amino acids on associative learning in the honeybee Apis mellifera L.

Cited by 3 publications

References 15 publications

Combined secondary compounds naturally found in nectars enhance honeybee cognition and survival

Combined secondary compounds naturally found in nectars enhance honeybee cognition and survival

Chemotactile perception and associative learning of amino acids in yellowjacket workers

Learning of a mimic odor combined with nectar nonsugar compounds enhances honeybee pollination of a commercial crop

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