Tolerance and efficient metabolization of extremely high ethanol concentrations by a social wasp

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Bouchebti, Sofia; Gershon, Yael; Gordin, Alexander; Huchon, Dorothee; Levin, Eran
• 署名单位: Tel Aviv University; Tel Aviv University; Tel Aviv University; Tel Aviv University; Ben-Gurion University of the Negev
• 刊物名称: PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0027-8810
• DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2410874121
• 发表日期: 2024-10-29
• 关键词: drosophila-melanogaster; hymenoptera vespidae; alcohol-dehydrogenase; MODEL; insects; mechanisms; ingestion; BEHAVIOR; ecology; fruit

摘要

Ethanol, a natural by- product of sugar fermentation, can be found in various fruits and nectar. Although many animals routinely consume ethanol in low concentrations as part of their natural diets, its inherent toxicity can cause severe damage. Even species particularly well adapted to ethanol consumption face detrimental effects when exposed to concentrations above 4%. Here, we investigated the metabolism of ethanol and its impact on survival and behavior in the Oriental hornet ( Vespa orientalis), a social wasp that naturally consumes ethanol. We show that chronic ethanol consumption, even at concentrations as high as 80%, had no impact on hornet mortality, construction behavior, or agonistic behavior. Using 13 C1 labeled ethanol, we show that hornets efficiently metabolized ingested ethanol and at a much higher rate than honey bees. The presence of multiple copies of the alcohol dehydrogenase (NADP+) gene in the Vespa genera suggests a potential mechanism for ethanol tolerance. These findings support the hypothesis that the mutualistic relationship between ethanol- producing organisms and vespid hosts may be at the origin of their remarkable capacity to utilize and metabolize ethanol.