Jinjia Liu

This study aims to characterize the structural features and spatiotemporal expression patterns of the protein encoded by odorant receptor gene AcerOR120, and to explore its biological functions in olfactory recognition in Apis cerana cerana. Bioinformatic software was used to predict the transmembrane topology, secondary/tertiary structures and conserved domains of the AcerOR120 protein. A neighbor-joining phylogenetic tree was constructed based on homologous sequences within the genus Apis. qRT-PCR was performed to detect the gene expression profiles in antennae of worker bees at 1, 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25 days old, as well as different tissues of foragers. EAG recording was applied to compare the electrophysiological responses of worker antennae to 11 volatile odorants before and after gene silencing via RNA interference. The open reading frame of AcerOR120 is 1203 bp, encoding a 401-amino-acid protein containing seven transmembrane domains with an intracellular N-terminus. Its secondary structure is dominated by α-helices accounting for 82.79%, which matches the typical structural signature of insect odorant receptors. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that AcerOR120 shares high conservation across Apis species. Spatiotemporal expression assays showed that transcript abundance in antennae increased first and then decreased with worker age, reaching the minimum at day 1 and the maximum at day 20. Among tissues of foragers, the highest expression was detected in antennae and thoraxes, followed by heads and legs, while abdomens and wings possessed low expression levels. RNAi silencing significantly reduced overall EAG responses of antennae to all 11 tested odorants, with the most dramatic decreases observed for Geraniol, Decanal, Ocimene and (+)-Dihydrocarvone. AcerOR120 encodes a canonical insect odorant receptor and is highly expressed in forager antennae. It mediates the recognition of multiple floral volatiles and pheromones and is speculated to participate in olfactory-related physiological processes, including nectar source localization and social behavior regulation in A. cerana cerana.

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) regulate diverse biological processes. However, their roles in melanogenesis remain poorly understood. This study investigated a lncRNA (ENSCHIT00000005207; lncRNA‐ADAT1) that is differentially expressed in the skin of white and brown goats. lncRNA‐ADAT1 expression in goat melanocytes was determined using quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction (qRT‐PCR) and in situ hybridization. LncRNA‐ADAT1 interference and overexpression vectors were designed, synthesized, and transfected into melanocytes. Target miRNAs of lncRNA‐ADAT1 were predicted using bioinformatics tools, and their interactions were validated through luciferase reporter assays. MiRNA expression vectors were constructed and transfected into melanocytes, and the targeted regulatory gene was identified using a luciferase assay. The effects of target gene on melanogenesis and cell proliferation were investigated. qRT‐PCR results revealed distinct expression patterns of lncRNA‐ADAT1 in male and female goat tissues, whereas in situ hybridization assays showed that lncRNA‐ADAT1 was abundantly expressed in melanocyte cytoplasm but minimally expressed in the nucleus. LncRNA‐ADAT1 overexpression in melanocytes significantly increased ( p < 0.01) melanogenesis and cell proliferation by interacting with miR‐449a‐5p as a competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA). MiR‐449a‐5p overexpression in melanocytes significantly inhibited ( p < 0.01) melanin production and significantly promoted cell proliferation ( p < 0.05). Furthermore, FZD5 had miR‐449a‐5p binding sites, and miR‐449a‐5p overexpression significantly reduced FZD5 expression ( p < 0.001). Transfection of melanocytes with the FZD5 confirmed that FZD5 significantly increased ( p < 0.01) melanin production and ( p < 0.05) melanocyte proliferation by regulating β‐Catenin expression. lncRNA‐ADAT1 promoted melanogenesis and cell proliferation in goat melanocytes via the miR‐449a‐5p/ FZD5/β‐Catenin axis.

In this study, we aimed to investigate the hepatoprotective effects of plantagoside (PLA) against D‐galactose (D‐gal)‐induced liver injury in aged mice. PLA treatment significantly alleviated the D‐gal‐induced body weight loss and the elevated liver index in mice, and effectively reduced oxidative stress, inflammatory response, and liver tissue damage in vivo. Transcriptomic analysis identified 513 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) regulated by PLA, and enrichment analysis revealed that these genes were primarily associated with the PI3K‐Akt signaling pathway and purine metabolism. Metabolomic analysis revealed that PLA regulates purine metabolism by modulating key metabolites, such as hypoxanthine and cAMP. Integrated omics analysis suggested that PLA exerts protective effects by regulating purine metabolism, thereby enhancing antioxidant capacity and suppressing inflammation. In conclusion, PLA significantly alleviated D‐gal‐induced liver injury, reduced oxidative stress, and attenuated inflammation by regulating purine metabolism, thereby demonstrating its potential as an anti‐aging and hepatoprotective drug and providing a new theoretical basis for the treatment of age‐associated liver diseases.

Strawberries are popular fruits around the world, and their yield and fruit quality rely on pollination by honey bees and bumblebee colonies. Both bee species have their own advantages in strawberry pollination. This study investigates the characteristic of strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa ‘Red Face’) flower volatiles and their effects on bee pollinators by (1) detecting the volatile compounds of strawberry flowers by polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) combined gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), (2) determining whether Bombus terrestris or Apis mellifera showed antennae responses to certain compounds of strawberry flower volatiles by an electroantennography test (EAG), and (3) testing whether these compounds could elicit a corresponding behavioral response in bees. The results showed that (1) there were 38 chemical compounds in ‘Red Face’ volatiles with 7 types, most of which were known to be generally emitted by flowers but also have some compounds that have not been reported in strawberry flowers; (2) B. terrestris and A. mellifera had strong EAG responses to several compounds, respectively, especially to ethyl benzoate, (Z)-3-hexenyl propionate, (Z)-3-hexenyl acetate, benzeneacetaldehyde and melonal; and (3) both bee species showed significant avoidance behaviors to four tested compounds, especially the B. terrestris. Flower volatiles of strawberry ‘Red face’ were different from other strawberry varieties that have been reported; some of these electrophysiologically active compounds could cause antennal potential responses in bees, as well as behavioral responses. Our study supports the idea that strawberry flower volatiles are one of the factors influencing bee foraging decisions and provides a reference for formulating more reasonable bee pollination to improve strawberry fruit quality.

Bumble bees and honey bees are of vital importance for tomato pollination, although honey bees are less attracted to tomato flowers than bumble bees. Little is known about how tomato flower volatile compounds influence the foraging behaviors of honey bees and bumble bees. In this study, compounds of tomato flower volatiles were detected by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. Electroantennography (EAG) and a dynamic two-choice olfactometer were used, respectively, to compare the differences of antennal and behavioral responses between Apis mellifera and Bombus terrestris towards selected volatile compounds. A total of 46 compounds were detected from the tomato flower volatiles. Of the 16 compounds tested, A. mellifera showed strong antennal responses to 3 compounds (1-nonanal, (+)-dihydrocarvone, and toluene) when compared with a mineral oil control, and B. terrestris showed 7 pronounced EAG responses (1,3-xylene, (+)-dihydrocarvone, toluene, piperitone, eucarvone, 1-nonanal, and β-ocimene). Additionally, 1-nonanal and (+)-dihydrocarvone elicited significant avoidance behavior of A. mellifera, but not of B. terrestris. In conclusion, bumble bees are more sensitive to the compounds of tomato flower volatiles compared to honey bees, and honey bees showed aversion to some compounds of tomato flower volatiles. The findings indicated that compounds of flower volatiles significantly influenced bee foraging preference for tomato.

As important pollinators, honeybees and bumblebees present a pollination behavior that is influenced by flower volatiles through the olfactory system. In this study, volatile compounds from melon flowers were isolated and identified by headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS), and their effects on Apis mellifera and Bombus terrestris were investigated by electroantennogram (EAG) and behavior tests (Y-tube olfactometer). The results showed that 77 volatile compounds were detected in melon flowers, among which the relative content of aldehydes was the highest (61.34%; 82.09%). A. mellifera showed a strong EAG response to e-2-hexenal, e-2-octenal, and 1-nonanal. B. terrestris showed a strong EAG response to e-2-hexenal, e-2-octenal, 2,5-dimethyl-benzaldehyde, benzaldehyde and benzenepropanal. In behavior tests, the volatiles with the highest attractive rate to A. mellifera were e-2-hexenal (200 μg/μL, 33.33%) and e-2-octenal (300 μg/μL, 33.33%), and those to B. terrestris were e-2-hexenal (10 μg/μL, 53.33%) and 2,5-dimethyl-benzaldehyde (100 μg/μL, 43.33%). E-2-hexenal and e-2-octenal were more attractive to A. mellifera than B. terrestris, respectively (10 μg/μL, 10 μg/μL, 200 μg/μL). In conclusion, the volatiles of melon flowers in facilities have certain effects on the electrophysiology and behavior of bees, which is expected to provide theoretical and technical support for the pollination of A. mellifera and B. terrestris in facilities.

The decreasing number of bees is a global ecological problem. With the advancement of agricultural modernisation, the large-scale use of neonicotinoid insecticides is one of the main factors leading to the decline of bees. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect and the mechanisms underlying bees impaired by dinotefuran. Acute (48 h) oral toxicity tests showed that a 5% lethal concentration (LC₅) was 0.220 mg/L, and a 20% lethal concentration (LC₂₀) was 0.458 mg/L. The gene expression profile shows that when compared with the control group, the LC₅ group induced 206 significantly upregulated, differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and 363 significantly downregulated DEGs, while the LC₂₀ group induced 180 significantly upregulated DEGs and 419 significantly downregulated DEGs. Significantly, transcriptomic analysis revealed DEGs involved in immunity, detoxification, and the nervous system, such as antimicrobial peptides, vitellogenin, synaptotagmin-10, AChE-2, and nAChRa9. Furthermore, Gene Ontology (GO) annotation and Kyoto Encyclopaedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis revealed that DEGs were enriched in amino acid and fatty acid biosynthesis and metabolism pathways. Collectively, our findings will help clarify the deleterious physiological and behavioural impacts of dinotefuran on bees and provide a basis for future research on the mechanisms underlying bees impaired by dinotefuran.