Energy-regulated molecules maintain young status in the trophocytes and fat cells of old queen honeybees

Abstract

Queen honeybees (Apis mellifera) have much longer lifespans than worker bees. Energy-regulated molecules in the trophocytes and fat cells of workers during aging have been determined, but are unknown in queen bees. In the present study, energy-regulated molecules were evaluated in the trophocytes and fat cells of young and old queen bees. Adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase α2 (AMPK-α2), phosphorylated AMPK-α2 (pAMPK-α2), and cAMP-specific phosphodiesterases activity increased with aging. The pAMPK-α2/AMPK-α2 ratio and AMPK activity; adenosine triphosphate (ATP), adenosine diphosphate (ADP), and adenosine monophosphate (AMP) concentrations; the ADP/ATP ratio and the AMP/ATP ratio; the cyclic adenosine monophosphate concentration; forkhead box protein O expression; Silent information regulator T1 (SirT1) expression and activity; and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-α (PPAR-α) expression were not significantly different between young and old queen bees. These results show that energy-regulated molecules maintain a youthful status in the trophocytes and fat cells of queen bees during aging. These cells seem to have longevity-promoting mechanisms and may clarify the secret of longevity in queen bees.

Mitochondrial energy utilization maintains young status in the trophocytes and oenocytes of old queen honeybees

“…These findings suggest that mitochondrial energy utilization does not decline in the trophocytes and oenocytes of old queen bees. These results are consistent with a recent study showing that energy-regulated molecules maintain a young status in the trophocytes and oenocytes of old queen bees (Hsu and Hu 2014). In addition, this study demonstrates that the trophocytes and oenocytes of queen bees have longevity-promoting mechanisms.…”

“…The trophocytes and oenocytes of old queen bees have similar levels of AMPK activity; FoxO expression; adenosine triphosphate (ATP), ADP, AMP, and cAMP concentrations; SirT1 expression and activity; and PPAR-α expression as those of young queen bees (Hsu and Hu 2014). These results suggest that energy metabolism in trophocytes and oenocytes is similar between young and old queen bees and is different from that reported in worker bees .…”

“…As described in our previous studies (Hsieh and Hsu 2011b;Hsieh and Hsu 2013;Hsu and Hu 2014), young (2-month-old) and old (16-month-old) queen bees were collected from different hives on the same dates for use in the following experiments. The young and old queen bees were mated with drones and were able to lay eggs.…”

“…Protein concentration was determined using a commercial protein assay reagent (500-0006; Bio-Rad Laboratories). Western blotting was performed as previously described Hsu and Hu 2014) using primary antibodies against ATP synthase (1:1000; produced in-house), ND1 (h00004535-A01, 1:1000; Abnova, Neihu, Taipei, Taiwan), and tubulin (ab6046, 1:10,000; Abcam, Cambridge, MA, USA) and using the horseradish peroxidaseconjugated secondary antibody (1:10,000). This experiment was performed with five biological replicates using a total of five young and five old queen bees.…”

“…Lack of cell division during adulthood, ease of isolation from the abdomen, and convenient manipulation make trophocytes and oenocytes suitable for use in studies of cellular senescence and longevity (Hsieh and Hsu 2011a, b;Hsu and Chan 2013;Chan et al 2011;Chuang and Hsu 2013;Hsieh and Hsu 2013;Hsu and Hsieh 2014;Hsu and Hu 2014).…”