Cellular heterogeneity of the developing worker honey bee (Apis mellifera) pupa: a single cell transcriptomics...

Area of Science:

• Zoology
• Genomics
• Developmental Biology

Background:

• Honey bees (Apis mellifera) are vital pollinators for agriculture and important models for biological research.
• Despite their significance, detailed knowledge of honey bee cellular biology and gene expression during development is limited compared to other livestock.

Purpose of the Study:

• To create the first comprehensive single-cell atlas of worker honey bees at distinct developmental stages (prepupa and pupa).
• To identify cell-type populations and their corresponding gene expression signatures.
• To investigate gene coexpression networks associated with specific cell types and developmental processes.

Main Methods:

• Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-Seq) was performed on honey bee larvae at day 11 (prepupa) and day 15 (pupa).
• Cell-to-cell network analysis based on transcriptomic profiles was used to identify cell clusters.
• Gene coexpression analysis, literature mining, protein atlas data, and gene ontology analysis were employed to determine cell cluster identities.

Main Results:

• Identified 63 distinct cell clusters, with 17 common to both developmental stages.
• Characterized cell populations including nervous system/sensory organs (17 clusters), cuticle (19), fat body (7), muscle (5), and compound eye (4).
• This work represents the first whole single-cell atlas for honey bees, detailing cellular composition and gene expression.

Conclusions:

• The developed single-cell atlas provides a foundational resource for future research into honey bee biology at the cellular level.
• This atlas will facilitate deeper investigations into developmental processes, cellular functions, and the genetic basis of honey bee traits.
• The findings highlight the potential of scRNA-Seq for advancing our understanding of complex insect systems.