Supplementation in vitamin B3 counteracts the negative effects of tryptophan deficiencies in bumble bees

Abstract

Increasing evidence highlights the importance of diet content in 9 essential amino acids for bee physiological and behavioral performance. However, the tenth essential amino acid, tryptophan, has been overlooked as its experimental measurement requires a specific hydrolysis. Tryptophan is the precursor of serotonin and vitamin B3, which together modulate cognitive and metabolic functions in most animals. Here, we investigated how tryptophan deficiencies influence the longevity and behavior of bumble bees. Tryptophan-deficient diets led to a moderate increase in food intake, aggressiveness and mortality compared to the control diet. Vitamin B3 supplementation in tryptophan-deficient diets tended to buffer these effects on food intake and survival, and significantly reduced workers aggressiveness. Considering that the pollens of major crops and common plants, such as corn and dandelion, are deficient in tryptophan, these effects could have a strong impact on bee populations and their pollination service.