Search for semiochemicals of honeybee (Apis mellifera)

• Project/Area Number: 20510208
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Living organism molecular science
• Research Institution: Setsunan University
• Principal Investigator: NODA Naoki Setsunan University, 薬学部, 教授 (40180749)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): NAKATANI Takafumi 摂南大学, 薬学部, 講師 (10340861) ; KODAI Tetsuya 摂南大学, 薬学部, 助教 (70548891)
• Co-Investigator(Renkei-kenkyūsha): NAKAMURA Jyun 玉川大学, ミツバチ科学研究センター, 教授 (30256002)
• Project Period (FY): 2008 – 2010
• Project Status: Completed (Fiscal Year 2010)
• Budget Amount: ¥3,770,000 (Direct Cost: ¥2,900,000、Indirect Cost: ¥870,000); Fiscal Year 2010: ¥910,000 (Direct Cost: ¥700,000、Indirect Cost: ¥210,000); Fiscal Year 2009: ¥1,300,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,000,000、Indirect Cost: ¥300,000); Fiscal Year 2008: ¥1,560,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,200,000、Indirect Cost: ¥360,000)
• Keywords: 天然有機化学 / ミツバチカスト制 / 制御物質 / semiochemicals / ローヤルゼリー / ヒドロキシ脂肪酸 / Johnstonの仮説 / 10-hydroxydecenoic acid / ミツバチ / カスト制

Research Abstract

This study was undertaken to search for semiochemicals, which have various important functions and roles for caste maintenance in honeybee colonies (Apis mellifera). Rather than looking for semiochemicals in the mandibular glands of the queen bee, this study involves the search for precursors of pheromones from large quantities of royal jelly. Seven chiral hydroxy fatty acids were isolated. Interestingly enough, except for 3-hydroxyl fatty acid, all chiral acids are present in royal jelly as optical isomers. Considering the relationship between 9-ODA and 9-HDA, it is expected that these chiral acids are precursors of semiochemicals, and that their corresponding oxo-forms may play physiologically important functions and roles in the hierarchy of honeybee colonies. The biological activities of these compounds will be examined.

Research Products

• [Journal Article] The Absolute Configurations of Some Hydroxy Fatty Acids from the Royal Jelly of Honeybees (Apis mellifera). (2011)
  • Author(s): Kodai T., Nakatani T., Noda N.
  • Journal Title: Lipids 46 Pages: 263-270
  • Peer Reviewed
• [Journal Article] The Absolute Configurations of Some Hydroxy Fatty Acids from the Royal Jelly of Honeybees (Apis mellifera) (2011)
  • Author(s): 野田直規
  • Journal Title: Lipids(AOCS,アメリカ油化学会) Volume: 46巻 Pages: 263-270
  • Peer Reviewed
• [Presentation] Absolute Configurations of Some Hydroxy Fatty Acids from the Royal Jelly of Honeybees (Apis mellifera). (2010)
  • Author(s): 小鯛哲也、中谷尊史、野田直規
  • Organizer: アメリカ油化学会、101st AOCS Annual Meeting & Expo.
  • Place of Presentation: Phoenix, Arizona, USA
• [Presentation] The Absolute Configurations of Some Hydroxy Fatty Acids from the Royal Jelly of Honeybees (Apis mellifera). (2010)
  • Author(s): 野田直規
  • Organizer: 101st AOCS Annual Meeting & Expo
  • Place of Presentation: Phoenix, Arizona, USA
• [Remarks] ホームページ等
  • URL: http://www.setsunan.ac.jp/~p-tennen/HTML-file/TOP/TOP-right/top.html
• [Remarks]
  • URL: http://www.setsunan.ae.jp/~p-tennen/HTML-file/TOP/TOP-right/top.html