An Efficient Antioxidant System in a Long-Lived Termite Queen

Area of Science:

• Evolutionary Biology
• Insect Physiology
• Gerontology

Background:

• A common biological principle is the trade-off between reproduction and longevity.
• Social insect queens are exceptional, exhibiting long lifespans and high fecundity, challenging this trade-off.
• This suggests unique anti-aging mechanisms in social insect queens.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the oxidative stress resistance in queens of the termite Reticulitermes speratus.
• To compare the levels of oxidative damage and antioxidant enzyme activity between queens and non-reproductive individuals (workers and soldiers).
• To explore the potential role of an efficient antioxidant system in the extended longevity of termite queens.

Main Methods:

• Quantified oxidative damage markers in DNA, protein, and lipids.
• Measured the activity of key antioxidant enzymes, specifically catalase (CAT) and peroxiredoxin (Prx).
• Assessed gene expression levels for CAT (RsCAT1) and Prx (RsPRX6) in queens versus workers.

Main Results:

• Termite queens showed significantly lower oxidative damage to DNA, protein, and lipids compared to workers.
• Queens exhibited markedly higher catalase (CAT) activity and gene expression (RsCAT1) than workers.
• Elevated expression of the peroxiredoxin gene (RsPRX6) was also observed in queens.

Conclusions:

• The efficient antioxidant system in Reticulitermes speratus queens, characterized by reduced oxidative damage and enhanced antioxidant enzyme activity, contributes to their long lifespan.
• This finding provides insights into the evolutionary link between reproductive division of labor and oxidative stress resistance in social insects.
• The study highlights a potential mechanism for extended longevity in social insect queens.