2007/12/01 by H. Schlüns, Helge Schlüns, R. H. Crozier +1 · 1 citation
Agricultural and Biological Sciences · Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · Neuroscience · #Insect and Arachnid Ecology and Behavior #Insect and Pesticide Research #Neurobiology and Insect Physiology Research
paper · doi:10.1111/j.1365-2583.2007.00768.x
openalex publication_date 2007/12/01 · openalex created_date 2016/06/24 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/01
Relationships of immune genes in adult honeybees (Apis mellifera) were investigated using RNA interference (RNAi). Quantitative RT-PCR was applied to estimate gene expression and the extent of gene silencing. Relish is a transcription factor and forms an important part of the IMD signalling pathway. The expression of the immune gene Relish was significantly reduced by RNAi (ca. 70%). The proposed regulation of antimicrobial peptide genes by Relish could be established for abaecin and hymenoptaecin. These two genes showed a reduction in gene expression to the same extent as Relish. However, the antimicrobial peptide gene defensin-1 was not affected which suggests defensin-1 is regulated by a different signalling pathway.