D soldiers (Figure 8A). The two genes, hexamerin 1 and 2, have a

D soldiers (Figure 8A). The two genes, hexamerin 1 and 2, have a “status-quo” presoldierinhibitory function in workers [1]. In this study, the highest expression level of hexamerin 2 in larvae suggests that most of larvae might develop into workers rather than soldiers. The results indicated that there was a significant difference in expression level of b-glycosidase among workers, soldiers and larvae (P,0.05). The b-glycosidase expression level in workers was significantly higher than larvae and soldiers, but there was no significant difference PD 168393 between larvae and soldiers (Figure 8B). The gene, Neofem2 coding for b-glycosidase, was highly overexpressed in female neotenics compared with workers in C. secundus [36]. Although the expression level of b-glycosidase in Homatropine methobromide web reproductives of O. formosanus was not analyzed 25033180 in this study, our results suggest thatthe higher expression level of b-glycosidase in workers might be related to the function of breaking down polysaccharides [37]. Our results showed that there was a significant difference in expression level of bicaudal D among workers, soldiers and larvae (P,0.05). The bicaudal D expression level in larvae was significantly higher than workers and soldiers, but there was no significant difference between workers and soldiers (Figure 8C). In contrast, the expression level of Rf b-NAC-1 homologous to bicaudal was the highest in soldiers of R. flavipes, indicating that Rf b-NAC-1 in soldiers might influence the generalized soldier body plan [32]. However, our results suggest that bicaudal D might play an important role in larval development in O. formosanus.Putative Genes Involved in AggressionAggressive behavior is important for the survival and reproduction of many animal species [38?0], and is affected by genetic and environmental factors [41]. There is obvious interspecific and intercolonial aggression in termites, [42]. However, very little is known about molecular mechanisms underlying aggression in termites. From the current transcriptome database, we obtained six putative genes with significant hits to 6 different genes known to be involved in aggression by BLASTX analyses (Table 4). The gene Cyp6a20 encoding a cytochrome P450, hasTranscriptome and Gene Expression in TermiteFigure 5. Histogram presentation of Gene Ontology classification. The results are summarized in three main categories: biological process, cellular component and molecular function. The right y-axis indicates the number of genes in a category. The left y-axis indicates 1326631 the percentage of a specific category of genes in that main category. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0050383.gbeen shown to modulate aggression in Drosophila [43,44]. The drug-induced increases of 5-HT in the brain increased Drosophila aggression [45], while the reduction of the neurotransmitter octopamine decreased Drosophila aggression [46]. The neurotransmitter dopamine also modulates aggressive behavior in Drosophila [47]. The inhibition of MAOA activity in mice leads to decreased aggression [48]. In this study, we selected the gene homologous to Cyp6a20 to analyze its expression differences among workers, soldiers and larvae of O. formosanus (Table S4), in order to detect whether this gene is involved in aggression regulation in O. formosanus. Our results showed that there was a significant difference in expression level of Cyp6a20 among workers, soldiers and larvae (P,0.05). The Cyp6a20 expression level in larvae was significantly higher than workers.D soldiers (Figure 8A). The two genes, hexamerin 1 and 2, have a “status-quo” presoldierinhibitory function in workers [1]. In this study, the highest expression level of hexamerin 2 in larvae suggests that most of larvae might develop into workers rather than soldiers. The results indicated that there was a significant difference in expression level of b-glycosidase among workers, soldiers and larvae (P,0.05). The b-glycosidase expression level in workers was significantly higher than larvae and soldiers, but there was no significant difference between larvae and soldiers (Figure 8B). The gene, Neofem2 coding for b-glycosidase, was highly overexpressed in female neotenics compared with workers in C. secundus [36]. Although the expression level of b-glycosidase in reproductives of O. formosanus was not analyzed 25033180 in this study, our results suggest thatthe higher expression level of b-glycosidase in workers might be related to the function of breaking down polysaccharides [37]. Our results showed that there was a significant difference in expression level of bicaudal D among workers, soldiers and larvae (P,0.05). The bicaudal D expression level in larvae was significantly higher than workers and soldiers, but there was no significant difference between workers and soldiers (Figure 8C). In contrast, the expression level of Rf b-NAC-1 homologous to bicaudal was the highest in soldiers of R. flavipes, indicating that Rf b-NAC-1 in soldiers might influence the generalized soldier body plan [32]. However, our results suggest that bicaudal D might play an important role in larval development in O. formosanus.Putative Genes Involved in AggressionAggressive behavior is important for the survival and reproduction of many animal species [38?0], and is affected by genetic and environmental factors [41]. There is obvious interspecific and intercolonial aggression in termites, [42]. However, very little is known about molecular mechanisms underlying aggression in termites. From the current transcriptome database, we obtained six putative genes with significant hits to 6 different genes known to be involved in aggression by BLASTX analyses (Table 4). The gene Cyp6a20 encoding a cytochrome P450, hasTranscriptome and Gene Expression in TermiteFigure 5. Histogram presentation of Gene Ontology classification. The results are summarized in three main categories: biological process, cellular component and molecular function. The right y-axis indicates the number of genes in a category. The left y-axis indicates 1326631 the percentage of a specific category of genes in that main category. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0050383.gbeen shown to modulate aggression in Drosophila [43,44]. The drug-induced increases of 5-HT in the brain increased Drosophila aggression [45], while the reduction of the neurotransmitter octopamine decreased Drosophila aggression [46]. The neurotransmitter dopamine also modulates aggressive behavior in Drosophila [47]. The inhibition of MAOA activity in mice leads to decreased aggression [48]. In this study, we selected the gene homologous to Cyp6a20 to analyze its expression differences among workers, soldiers and larvae of O. formosanus (Table S4), in order to detect whether this gene is involved in aggression regulation in O. formosanus. Our results showed that there was a significant difference in expression level of Cyp6a20 among workers, soldiers and larvae (P,0.05). The Cyp6a20 expression level in larvae was significantly higher than workers.