Insects such as ants, bees, and termites that engage in social life are divided between kings and queens (reproductive caste), who reproduce, and the overwhelming majority of individuals (non-reproductive caste), such as worker ants and soldier ants, who engage in labor other than breeding. Society is established by the division of labor within the colony.In such systems, nutrition is concentrated in the king and queen due to the biased distribution of resources, but the mechanism controlling resource concentration in specific individuals has been a mystery for many years.

　The research group focused on the nitrogen source, which is an essential protein material for breeding.Nitrogen compounds are stored in a tissue called the fat body in the form of their metabolite uric acid.Therefore, we compared the presence or absence of enzymes involved in the utilization of uric acid between the king/queen and other castes of Japanese termites.

　As a result, it was found that the gene for uric acid degrading enzyme (uric acid oxidase), which is the first enzyme necessary for the utilization of uric acid, is highly expressed only in mature kings and queens.This suggests that only the king and queen of the reproductive caste can use their own enzymes to degrade uric acid, and inhibition of degradation reduced the number of eggs laid by queens, suggesting that uric acid degradation is important for reproduction. rice field.Furthermore, it was found that uric acid was derived from substances received from worker ants.

　This research has clarified part of the molecular basis involved in the control of the division of labor system that concentrates limited resources on specific individuals.It is said that it has a very important meaning in understanding the social maintenance mechanism of organisms.

Paper information:[Proceedings of the Royal Society B] King- and queen-specific degradation of uric acid contributes to reproduction in termites