Table 2.
List of candidate genes and pathways associated with longevity and potentially involved in the reshaping of the trade-off between lifespan and reproduction in social insects.
| Candidate gene | Biological process | Trait association in solitary organisms | Age-related expression pattern in solitary organism | Age-related expression pattern in T. rugatulus queen |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| catalase isoform X2/ catalase-like |
Reduction of oxidative stress (longevity pathway, mammals and Drosophila) |
Positively associated with longevity in Drosophila47 | Decreasing in the rat brain and in Drosophila67,68 | Increasing in the fat body |
| superoxide dismutase [Cu-Zn] | Positively associated with longevity in Drosophila47 | Decreasing in the rat brain68 | Increasing in the fat body and in the brain | |
|
SAM synthase-like/ SAM synthase isoform X5/ SAM synthase isoform X2/ SAM synthase isoform X1/ SAM synthase isoform X3 |
SAM biosynthesis (SAM metabolism) | Negatively associated with longevity in C. elegans73 (SAM degradation extends lifespan in Drosophila71) | NA | Increasing in the fat body |
| kynurenine/alpha-aminoadipate aminotransferase, mitochondrial-like | Tryptophan catabolism into kynurenine (kynurenine pathway) | Positively associated with aging52,75,76 and negatively associated with longevity in Drosophila74 | Increasing in human serum52 | Decreasing in the fat body |
Additional information comprises the according biological process, trait association in other organisms with reference as well as information on the respective expression pattern in the solitary species in comparison to T. rugatulus59.