Survival strategy of the long-lived termite, Reticulitermes speratus

2019 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 17K08152
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Insect science
• Research Institution: Yamaguchi University
• Principal Investigator: Iuchi Yoshihito 山口大学, 大学院創成科学研究科, 准教授 (60272069)
• Project Period (FY): 2017-04-01 – 2020-03-31
• Keywords: 長寿命解析 / シロアリ / 抗酸化システム / 活性酸素 / 抗酸化酵素

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Almost of all insects exemplify the theory of “trade-off” between longevity and reproduction. Among these, Japanese one of the eusocial insects, R. speratus break through that theory and have extraordinary long lifespan with high reproductivity. We hypothesised that long-lived termites have strong oxidative defence mechanisms and investigated. As a result, we found that R. speratus have an excellent antioxidative system. Especially, termite reproductives showed high expression of the antioxidant enzymes as well as injury repair enzymes. These indicates that an efficient antioxidant system positively functions to their longevity.

Free Research Field

生化学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

長寿を可能にしたシロアリの戦略はヒトとは一見異なるように見える。しかし, 本研究からヒトの老化抑制・健康寿命延長にも応用可能な知見が得られたと我々は考えている。今まで老化・寿命の生物モデルとして扱われてこなかった生物を, 真に長寿命な生物として研究対象として取り扱うことが可能であることを示したことで, 今後のこの分野のブレークスルーが期待できる。