Ant-Agonizing Aging without Tradeoffs in Queens

Abstract

Molecular basis of extreme longevity and active reproduction in queen ants. A queen ant lives long and reproduces actively, whereas worker ants are short-lived and sterile. Insulin upregulation in the brain of pseudoqueens, and very likely in queens, activates insulin/insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) signaling (IIS)–mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) in the fat body and ovary, leading to active reproduction. Insulin from the brain also promotes the secretion of imaginal morphogenesis protein-late 2 (Imp-L2) in the ovary, which inhibits IIS–AKT, consequently promoting longevity.