Experience-dependent modulation of Fox transcription factors in the stingless bee Tetragonisca fiebrigi

Abstract Experience-dependent modulation of gene expression is a fundamental mechanism shaping sensory plasticity in insects. In this study, we show that short-term olfactory exposure in the stingless bee Tetragonisca fiebrigi leads to rapid changes in the expression of two Fox -family transcriptional regulators, FoxP and FoxJ1 , in the antennae. Bees briefly exposed to scented food at a feeding station exhibited a pronounced downregulation of both genes relative to unexposed controls, indicating that peripheral sensory tissues swiftly adjust their transcriptional state in response to ecologically relevant cues. Given the broad regulatory roles of Fox transcription factors, such modulation may influence downstream pathways associated with chemoreceptor expression, neuronal differentiation, or signal transduction, potentially reflecting early steps of habituation or receptor desensitization. Our phylogenetic analyses further revealed that Fox genes are highly conserved across insects yet show signs of potential functional diversification within social lineages. This study uncovers a previously unrecognized transcriptional response associated with olfactory plasticity in stingless bees, indicating that brief environmental experiences during early life can influence gene expression profiles in sensory systems of pollinating insects.