Xenobiotic detoxification pathways in honey bees

• Published in: Current opinion in insect science Vol. 10; pp. 51 - 58
• Main Authors: Berenbaum, May R, Johnson, Reed M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier Inc 01.08.2015
• Subjects: Apis mellifera; cytochrome P-450; excretion; fermentation; food processing; genes; honey bees; inventories; mixing; nectar; nutritional adequacy; pesticides; pollen; pollinators; synergism; toxic substances; xenobiotics
• ISSN: 2214-5745; 2214-5745; 2214-5753
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cois.2015.03.005

•Phase I, II and III detoxification gene families are all reduced in honeybees.•Synergistic pesticide interactions may reflect reduced detoxification gene numbers.•Dietary protein and phytochemical content strongly influence detoxification.•Reduced detoxification gene inventories may reflect ‘social detoxification’. Relative to most other insect genomes, the western honey bee Apis mellifera has a deficit of detoxification genes spanning Phase I (functionalization), II (conjugation) and III (excretion) gene families. Although honeybees do not display across-the-board greater sensitivity to pesticides, this deficit may render them vulnerable to synergistic interactions among xenobiotics. Diet quality, in terms of protein and phytochemical content, has a pronounced influence on tolerance of toxic compounds. Detoxification gene inventory reduction may reflect an evolutionary history of consuming relatively chemically benign nectar and pollen, as other apoid pollinators display comparable levels of cytochrome P450 gene reduction. Enzymatic detoxification in the eusocial A. mellifera may be complemented by behaviors comprising a ‘social detoxification system,’ including forager discrimination, dilution by pollen mixing, and colony food processing via microbial fermentation, that reduces the number or quantity of ingested chemicals requiring detoxification.