Lipidomics Reveals Dietary Alpha Linolenic Acid Facilitates Metabolism Related to Division of Labor in Honeybee Workers

Qingxiao Zeng, Deqin Zong, Xiabing Li, Zihong Zhang and Jing Qiu ()
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Qingxiao Zeng: Key Laboratory of Argo-Product Quality and Safety of Ministry of Agriculture, Institute of Quality Standards and Testing Technology for Argo-Products, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China
Deqin Zong: Sericulture and Agriculture Research Institute, Yunnan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Honghe Autonomous Prefecture 661400, China
Xiabing Li: Key Laboratory of Argo-Product Quality and Safety of Ministry of Agriculture, Institute of Quality Standards and Testing Technology for Argo-Products, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China
Zihong Zhang: Key Laboratory of Argo-Product Quality and Safety of Ministry of Agriculture, Institute of Quality Standards and Testing Technology for Argo-Products, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China
Jing Qiu: Key Laboratory of Argo-Product Quality and Safety of Ministry of Agriculture, Institute of Quality Standards and Testing Technology for Argo-Products, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China

Agriculture, 2025, vol. 15, issue 3, 1-15

Abstract: The division of labor among honeybee workers contributes to efficient pollination activities. Lipids play a crucial role in behavioral regulation, with pollen serving as a primary source of these lipids. However, the regulatory effect of pollen lipids on the division of labor of honeybee workers remains to be studied. In this study, an in-depth lipidomic analysis based on HPLC-QTOF-MS and UPLC-IM-QTOF-MS was applied. We conducted the first comprehensive lipidomic profiling of the abdomen, brain, and intestine of emerging, nursing, and foraging bees, as well as pollen, thereby establishing a lipid library comprising 646 lipid species. The lipid composition of pollen was found to exhibit characteristics similar to those of honeybee workers, with alpha linolenic acid (ALA) validated as a key labor characteristic lipid. Moderate dietary ALA supplementation reshaped lipid levels and facilitated metabolism related to the labor of division. These findings advance the field of lipidomic analysis in honeybee workers, revealing a novel behavioral regulator and extending the understanding of the nutritional regulation of ALA in the division of labor among honeybee workers.

Keywords: lipidomic analysis; honeybee worker; alpha linolenic acid (ALA); division of labor (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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