THE ELECTROPHORETIC MOBILITIES OF TOTAL PROTEIN SYSTEMS IN DIFFERENT CASTES OF 4 TERMITE SPECIES

The SDS-PAGE electrophoretic mobility of total proteins from homogenat es of castes of two lower termite species (Kalotermes flavicollis and Reticulitermes lucifugus) and two upper ones (Nasutitermes sp. and Dis cuspiditermes nemorosus) was studied. Results show that it is possible to obtain well-defined electrophoretic patterns which can be correlat ed with the morphogenesis of the caste in question during each caste d evelopment programme. The data obtained for the species K. flavicollis in which the largest number of castes was studied, lends weight to th e hypothesis that it is possible to identify coding genes for single p roteins which are specific for each developmental stage.