Long-Lived Termite Queens Exhibit High Cu/Zn-Superoxide Dismutase Activity

Figure 2

Cu/Zn-SOD activity and gene expression in R. speratus queens and nonreproductive individuals. (a) Queens () showed higher Cu/Zn-SOD activity than nonreproductive workers (; ), soldiers (; ), and nymphs (; ). (b) Queens () did not have higher levels of RsSOD1 gene expression than workers (; ), soldiers (; ), or nymphs (; ). (c) Queens () did not have higher levels of RsSOD3A gene expression than workers (; ), soldiers (; ), or nymphs (; ). We used pooled samples, as described in Table S1, for several replications. White and black bars indicate nonreproductive individuals and queens, respectively. Error bars represent SEM. Significance was measured by unpaired t-test followed by Holm’s adjustment (). W: workers; S: soldiers; N: nymphs; Q: queens.

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