Functional Elucidation of <i>Vitellogenin receptor</i> Activity in <i>Apis mellifera</i> in Response to Abiotic Stress
Abiotic stressors threaten honeybee health, jeopardizing pollination services critical to agriculture and biodiversity. Here, we identified the <i>AmVgR</i> gene, which encodes a member of the low-density lipoprotein receptor family, and examined its function in the response of <i>...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2025-06-01
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| Series: | Insects |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/16/7/650 |
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| Summary: | Abiotic stressors threaten honeybee health, jeopardizing pollination services critical to agriculture and biodiversity. Here, we identified the <i>AmVgR</i> gene, which encodes a member of the low-density lipoprotein receptor family, and examined its function in the response of <i>Apis mellifera</i> to adverse abiotic stress. <i>AmVgR</i> exhibited peak expression in adult workers and was significantly upregulated under heat, cold, heavy metal, and pesticide exposure. RNAi-mediated knockdown of <i>AmVgR</i> suppressed antioxidant enzyme activities, elevated the levels of oxidative damage markers, and downregulated antioxidant gene expression. Crucially, <i>AmVgR</i> silencing reduced survival under H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub>-induced oxidative stress, indicating its essential role in stress resilience. Our findings highlight <i>AmVgR</i> as a key regulator of antioxidant defense during development and environmental adaptation in <i>Apis mellifera</i>. This study provides mechanistic insights into bee stress physiology and proposes <i>AmVgR</i> as a novel target for enhancing pollinator protection strategies. Further research should elucidate its molecular pathways and translational applications in mitigating abiotic stress impacts. |
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| ISSN: | 2075-4450 |