Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2012, 13(12), 15496-15509; doi:10.3390/ijms131215496
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Identification of kakusei, a Nuclear Non-Coding RNA, as an Immediate Early Gene from the Honeybee, and Its Application for Neuroethological Study

Taketoshi Kiya 1,* email, Atsushi Ugajin 2 email, Takekazu Kunieda 2 email and Takeo Kubo 2 email
1 Division of Life Sciences, Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Kanazawa University, Kakuma-machi, Kanazawa, Ishikawa 920-1192, Japan 2 Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan
* Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Received: 29 October 2012; in revised form: 16 November 2012 / Accepted: 19 November 2012 / Published: 22 November 2012
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Non-Coding RNAs 2012)
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Abstract: The honeybee is a social insect that exhibits various social behaviors. To elucidate the neural basis of honeybee behavior, we detected neural activity in freely-moving honeybee workers using an immediate early gene (IEG) that is expressed in a neural activity-dependent manner. In European honeybees (Apis mellifera), we identified a novel nuclear non-coding RNA, termed kakusei, as the first insect IEG, and revealed the neural activity pattern in foragers. In addition, we isolated a homologue of kakusei, termed Acks, from the Japanese honeybee (Apis cerana), and detected active neurons in workers fighting with the giant hornet.
Keywords: honeybee; kakusei; immediate early gene; insect; brain; non-coding RNA; foraging behavior; dance communication; Japanese honeybee; hot defensive bee ball formation

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MDPI and ACS Style

Kiya, T.; Ugajin, A.; Kunieda, T.; Kubo, T. Identification of kakusei, a Nuclear Non-Coding RNA, as an Immediate Early Gene from the Honeybee, and Its Application for Neuroethological Study. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2012, 13, 15496-15509.

AMA Style

Kiya T, Ugajin A, Kunieda T, Kubo T. Identification of kakusei, a Nuclear Non-Coding RNA, as an Immediate Early Gene from the Honeybee, and Its Application for Neuroethological Study. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 2012; 13(12):15496-15509.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Kiya, Taketoshi; Ugajin, Atsushi; Kunieda, Takekazu; Kubo, Takeo. 2012. "Identification of kakusei, a Nuclear Non-Coding RNA, as an Immediate Early Gene from the Honeybee, and Its Application for Neuroethological Study." Int. J. Mol. Sci. 13, no. 12: 15496-15509.

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