Expression of Sir2, Hdac1 and Ash2 in Honey Bee (Apis Mellifera L.) Queens and Workers

The queen and worker bees have the same genetic makeup. However, the queen differs dramatically from the workers in anatomy, physiology, behavior, and lifespan. Three genes (sir2, ash2, and hdac1) have been shown to be associated with histone methylation and acetylation as well as longevity in worms and flies. The relative expression level of these genes was examined in the heads of queens and workers at different developmental stages. The sir2, ash2, and hdac1 expression levels in newly emerged queens, egg-laying queens, and egg-laying workers were significantly higher than those in newly emerged workers, nurses, and foragers. We conclude that these genes are possibly “queen-like” genes.