![](/images/graphics-bg.png)
Long-Lived Termite Queens Exhibit High CuZn-Superoxide Dismutase Activity
Joint Authors
Iuchi, Yoshihito
Tasaki, Eisuke
Kobayashi, Kazuya
Matsuura, Kenji
Source
Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity
Issue
Vol. 2018, Issue 2018 (31 Dec. 2018), pp.1-8, 8 p.
Publisher
Hindawi Publishing Corporation
Publication Date
2018-02-13
Country of Publication
Egypt
No. of Pages
8
Main Subjects
Abstract EN
In most organisms, superoxide dismutases (SODs) are among the most effective antioxidant enzymes that regulate the reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated by oxidative energy metabolism.
ROS are considered main proximate causes of aging.
However, it remains unclear if SOD activities are associated with organismal longevity.
The queens of eusocial insects, such as termites, ants, and honeybees, exhibit extraordinary longevity in comparison with the nonreproductive castes, such as workers.
Therefore, the queens are promising candidates to study the underlying mechanisms of aging.
Here, we found that queens have higher Cu/Zn-SOD activity than nonreproductive individuals of the termite Reticulitermes speratus.
We identified three Cu/Zn-SOD sequences and one Mn-SOD sequence by RNA sequencing in R.
speratus.
Although the queens showed higher Cu/Zn-SOD activity than the nonreproductive individuals, there were no differences in their expression levels of the Cu/Zn-SOD genes RsSOD1 and RsSOD3A.
Copper (Cu2+ and Cu+) is an essential cofactor for Cu/Zn-SOD enzyme activity, and the queens had higher concentrations of copper than the workers.
These results suggest that the high Cu/Zn-SOD activity of termite queens is related to their high levels of the cofactor rather than gene expression.
This study highlights that Cu/Zn-SOD activity contributes to extraordinary longevity in termites.
American Psychological Association (APA)
Tasaki, Eisuke& Kobayashi, Kazuya& Matsuura, Kenji& Iuchi, Yoshihito. 2018. Long-Lived Termite Queens Exhibit High CuZn-Superoxide Dismutase Activity. Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity،Vol. 2018, no. 2018, pp.1-8.
https://search.emarefa.net/detail/BIM-1211574
Modern Language Association (MLA)
Tasaki, Eisuke…[et al.]. Long-Lived Termite Queens Exhibit High CuZn-Superoxide Dismutase Activity. Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity No. 2018 (2018), pp.1-8.
https://search.emarefa.net/detail/BIM-1211574
American Medical Association (AMA)
Tasaki, Eisuke& Kobayashi, Kazuya& Matsuura, Kenji& Iuchi, Yoshihito. Long-Lived Termite Queens Exhibit High CuZn-Superoxide Dismutase Activity. Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity. 2018. Vol. 2018, no. 2018, pp.1-8.
https://search.emarefa.net/detail/BIM-1211574
Data Type
Journal Articles
Language
English
Notes
Includes bibliographical references
Record ID
BIM-1211574