| 要旨トップ | 目次 | 日本生態学会第59回全国大会 (2012年3月,大津) 講演要旨
ESJ59/EAFES5 Abstract


一般講演(ポスター発表) P2-209A (Poster presentation)

Expression of Heat Shock Proteins in ergatoid queens of the ant Myrmecina nipponica inhibited in cold regions of Japan

*Miyazaki, S., Maekawa, K. (Univ. of Toyama)

Many insects are exposed to the seasonal environmental changes, and Hsps (Heat shock proteins)-mediated mechanisms buffer environmental stresses such as the temperature changes. The Hsps-mediated mechanisms are well conserved from microbes, insects to vertebrates. In some insect species, novel phenotypes have been evolved in the process of adaptation into specific environments. For examples, in Myrmecina nipponica, alate queens reproduce in most regions of Japan, whereas wingless ergatoid queen reproduce instead of alate queens in some cold regions (e.g., Hokkaido). However, little is known about molecular bases underlying such adaptive evolution. In this study, we aimed to examine contributions of Hsp90 (Heat Shock Protein 90), one of major Hsps, to the adaptive evolution of ergatoid queen in M. nipponica. First, a partial sequence of hsp90 ortholog was isolated, but no nonsynonymous substitution was identified between alate and ergatoid strains. Then, expression dynamics of hsp90 during 5-day cold shock (3°C) followed by 5-day recovery phase (20°C) were examined by the qRT-PCR. In both strains, hsp90 exhibited one-peak expression pattern at each cold-shock and recovery phase, however, alate strains higher expressed hsp90 than ergatoid strains. Based on these results, we will discuss about the low inducibility of hsp90 in ergatoid strains and their adaptation into cold environment.


日本生態学会