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Antennal Transcriptome Profiling Reveals Gustatory Receptors Associated with Pollen Foraging Preferences in Apis
Qiyan Su1,2, Yu Zhang1,2, Chang Song1,2
1College of Animal Science, Shanxi Agricultural University, Jinzhong 030801, China.
Animals : an Open Access Journal From MDPI
|July 15, 2026
Summary
Honeybees use gustatory perception to select pollen sources. This study identified specific gustatory receptor genes in honeybee antennae that are differentially expressed when foraging on pear versus rapeseed pollen, revealing molecular mechanisms for taste discrimination.
Area of Science:
- Molecular Biology
- Sensory Neuroscience
- Entomology
Background:
- Honeybee gustatory perception is crucial for foraging decisions and pollen source selection.
- The molecular basis of gustatory discrimination in honeybees remains largely unexplored.
- Understanding these mechanisms is vital for honeybee behavioral ecology and pollination management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the molecular mechanisms of gustatory discrimination in honeybees during pollen collection.
- To identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and gustatory receptor (GR) genes in honeybee antennae.
- To characterize the functional divergence of GR genes in relation to specific floral resource selection.
Main Methods:
- Utilized antennae from honeybees foraging on pear and rapeseed pollen, and control non-foraging workers.
- Employed Illumina high-throughput transcriptome sequencing to identify DEGs and characterize GR genes.
- Performed Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis.
- Validated gene expression patterns using quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR).
Main Results:
- Identified significant numbers of DEGs in pollen-foraging bees compared to controls, with fewer DEGs between pollen types.
- DEGs were associated with chemosensory perception, signal transduction, metabolism, and immune responses.
- Discovered seven GR-related genes, including novel candidates, with differential expression patterns linked to floral resources.
- Phylogenetic analysis suggested some GRs may function as bitter taste receptors.
Conclusions:
- Revealed differential expression and potential functional divergence of gustatory receptor genes in honeybees foraging on distinct pollen sources.
- Provided molecular evidence for honeybee gustatory perception in recognizing and selecting specific pollen resources.
- Offered insights into honeybee behavioral ecology, crop pollination, and the molecular basis of sensory discrimination.
