Journal
SCIENCE ADVANCES
Volume 6, Issue 34, Pages -Publisher
AMER ASSOC ADVANCEMENT SCIENCE
DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.aba9869
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Funding
- Searle Scholars Program [15-SSP-102]
- NIH New Innovator Award [DP2MH107055]
- New Initiative Research Grant from the Charles E. Kaufman Foundation [KA2016-85223]
- NIH Center for Photogenomics grant [RM1 HG007743]
- NIH Transformative Research Award [R01GM137425]
- NIH [R01 AG055570]
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In social insects, workers and queens arise from the same genome but display profound differences in behavior and longevity. In Harpegnathos saltator ants, adult workers can transition to a queen-like state called gamergate, which results in reprogramming of social behavior and life-span extension. Using single-cell RNA sequencing, we compared the distribution of neuronal and glial populations before and after the social transition. We found that the conversion of workers into gamergates resulted in the expansion of neuroprotective ensheathing glia. Brain injury assays revealed that activation of the damage response gene Mmp1 was weaker in old workers, where the relative frequency of ensheathing glia also declined. On the other hand, long-lived gamergates retained a larger fraction of ensheathing glia and the ability to mount a strong Mmp1 response to brain injury into old age. We also observed molecular and cellular changes suggestive of age-associated decline in ensheathing glia in Drosophila.
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