Chemicals in bees' brains tell them what functions to take
social roles, like parenthood, are tough to take up. It is tougher to decide when to take it up. Chemical changes
take place in the human brain as we adjust to new social roles but the exact method is as yet unclear. The mystery, though, has been solved for
the bees. A research unveiled the chemical changes in their brains that direct the social roles they should perform and when.
Young worker bees perform tasks like nursing of larvae and maintenance of the hive. Care inside the beehive needs efficient capability to
recognize, smell and detect chemicals emitted by the bees. In a couple of weeks, a change in the concentration of the proteins in their brains tells
them they should switch over to foraging. Foraging involves memorizing a feeding place, capacity to move about and communication skills.As
the functions change, so does the concentration of specific proteins associated with each function.
Liudy Garcia of the Brazilian Centre for Protein Research, Brazil and her team found three proteins called Major Royal Jelly Proteins (mrjp) 1, mrjp 2 and mrjp 7 that were higher in concentration
in the younger bees. These proteins help in odour recognition. Proteins like alpha-glucosidase, converting nectars into simple sugars, and
calcium-binding proteins associated with learning and behaviour were found in higher concentrations in forager bees.
"As foraging requires energy, alpha-glucosidase is more expressed in forager bees," explained Marcello Valle de Sousa, one of the authors of
the paper. The researchers also found high levels of iron-binding proteins in foragers. "Foragers are exposed to environmental stress which
iron-binding proteins protect from," explained de Sousa. The study was reported in the March 6 issue of the Journal of Proteome
Research.
We are a voice to you; you have been a support to us. Together we build journalism that is independent, credible and fearless. You can further help us by making a donation. This will mean a lot for our ability to bring you news, perspectives and analysis from the ground so that we can make change together.
.png)
Comments are moderated and will be published only after the site moderator’s approval. Please use a genuine email ID and provide your name. Selected comments may also be used in the ‘Letters’ section of the Down To Earth print edition.