Transcriptomic Signatures Mirror the Lack of the Fecundity/Longevity Trade-Off in Ant Queens

Molecular Biology and Evolution
K von WyschetzkiJürgen Heinze

Abstract

Life-history theory predicts a trade-off between reproductive investment and self-maintenance. The negative association between fertility and longevity found throughout multicellular organisms supports this prediction. As an important exception, the reproductives of many eusocial insects (ants, bees, and termites) are simultaneously very long-lived and highly fertile. Here, we examine the proximate basis for this exceptional relationship by comparing whole-body transcriptomes of differently aged queens of the ant Cardiocondyla obscurior. We show that the sets of genes differentially expressed with age significantly overlap with age-related expression changes previously found in female Drosophila melanogaster. We identified several developmental processes, such as the generation of neurons, as common signatures of aging. More generally, however, gene expression in ant queens and flies changes with age mainly in opposite directions. In contrast to flies, reproduction-associated genes were upregulated and genes associated with metabolic processes and muscle contraction were downregulated in old relative to young ant queens. Furthermore, we searched for putative C. obscurior longevity candidates associated with the previously repor...Continue Reading

References

Jan 5, 1999·Nature·R G Westendorp, T B Kirkwood
Dec 11, 1999·Nucleic Acids Research·M Kanehisa, S Goto
Nov 23, 2000·Nature·T Finkel, N J Holbrook
Nov 30, 2000·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·S ZouY N Jan
Apr 11, 2001·Experimental Gerontology·J R Carey
Sep 15, 1993·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·J Heinze, B Hölldobler
May 15, 2002·Current Biology : CB·Scott D PletcherLinda Partridge
Mar 3, 2004·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Joel D ParkerLaurent Keller
Aug 25, 2004·Current Biology : CB·Lisa A McGrawMariana F Wolfner
Sep 10, 2004·Annual Review of Entomology·Kimberly A Hughes, Rose M Reynolds
Mar 1, 2005·Cell·Linda PartridgeDominic J Withers
Jul 19, 2005·Physiology·João Pedro de Magalhães, George M Church
Sep 6, 2005·Mechanisms of Ageing and Development·Miguel CoronaGene E Robinson
Sep 16, 2005·BioEssays : News and Reviews in Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology·Thomas FlattMarc Tatar
Nov 18, 2005·Journal of Theoretical Biology·Richard E MichodAurora M Nedelcu
Jan 19, 2006·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Siri-Christine SeehuusGro V Amdam
Apr 6, 2006·BMC Genomics·Fabrice GirardotHervé Tricoire
Oct 13, 2006·Proceedings. Biological Sciences·Paul E EadyRuth E Lyons
Mar 10, 2007·Aging Cell·Stephanie JemielityLaurent Keller
Apr 18, 2007·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Miguel CoronaGene E Robinson
Aug 9, 2007·Evolution; International Journal of Organic Evolution·Thomas Flatt, Tadeusz J Kawecki
Mar 28, 2008·Gerontology·Jürgen Heinze, Alexandra Schrempf
May 21, 2008·BMC Genomics·Sarah D KocherChristina M Grozinger
Jul 30, 2008·Cell·Yelena V BudovskayaStuart K Kim
Jan 10, 2009·Nature Protocols·Da Wei HuangRichard A Lempicki
Mar 18, 2009·Bioinformatics·Cole TrapnellSteven L Salzberg
Apr 25, 2009·PLoS Genetics·Julie Hull-ThompsonHeinrich Jasper
May 9, 2009·Age·Silvia C Remolina, Kimberly A Hughes
Aug 5, 2009·Molecular and Cellular Biology·Jaakko MattilaOscar Puig
Dec 17, 2009·BMC Bioinformatics·Christiam CamachoThomas L Madden
Oct 26, 2010·Experimental Gerontology·Thomas Flatt
Sep 10, 2011·Molecular Ecology·Dries CardoenPeter Verleyen
Dec 14, 2011·The Journal of Experimental Biology·Ying WangGro V Amdam
Dec 27, 2011·Aging·Vafa TabatabaieJill Crandall
Mar 6, 2012·Nature Methods·Ben Langmead, Steven L Salzberg
Apr 18, 2012·PloS One·Jürgen Heinze, Alexandra Schrempf
Sep 12, 2012·FASEB Journal : Official Publication of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology·João Pedro de Magalhães
Oct 3, 2012·Journal of Nucleic Acids·Gregory UpertNadia Patino

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Feb 18, 2016·Experimental Gerontology·Gabrielle A LockettAndrew F G Bourke
Sep 9, 2015·Journal of Evolutionary Biology·O RueppellA Schrempf
Oct 11, 2016·Current Opinion in Insect Science·Marisa A Rodrigues, Thomas Flatt
Feb 18, 2016·Molecular Ecology·Katharina von WyschetzkiJürgen Heinze
Oct 11, 2016·Current Opinion in Insect Science·Matteo Antoine NegroniSusanne Foitzik
Oct 11, 2016·Current Opinion in Insect Science·Jan Oettler, Alexandra Schrempf
Oct 11, 2016·Current Opinion in Insect Science·Daniel ElsnerErich Bornberg-Bauer
Nov 22, 2016·BioEssays : News and Reviews in Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology·Philip A DowningAshleigh S Griffin
May 8, 2018·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Daniel ElsnerJudith Korb
May 16, 2019·Scientific Reports·Matteo Antoine NegroniBarbara Feldmeyer

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Related Feeds

Aging Genetics (Keystone)

This feed focuses on aging epidemiology and genetic, epigenetic, and proteomic aspects underlying aging, as well as aging- associated biomarkers. Here the latest research in this domain.

Genetics & Epigenetics of Aging

Dozens of genes are implicated in lifespan, and epigenetic changes during aging affect cell function. This feed focuses on the genetics and epigenetics of aging.

Cell Aging (Keystone)

This feed focuses on cellular aging with emphasis on the mitochondria, autophagy, and metabolic processes associated with aging and longevity. Here is the latest research on cell aging.