Abstract: 【Aim】 This study aims to provide the basis at the protein level for exploring the mechanism of nutrient digestion and absorption in termites by comparing the differences in protein composition and expression in the fore-midgut and hindgut contents of Reticulitermes perilucifugus workers fed with diets with different lignocellulose contents. 【Methods】 R. perilucifugus workers were fed with three diets (pine, straw and filter paper) with different lignocellulose contents. The proteins in contents of different parts of their gut were analyzed by two dimensional (2D) electrophoresis, and the differiential proteins were sequenced and bioinformatically analyzed by MALDI-TOF/MS. 【Results】 The results of 2D electrophoresis showed that the number of visible protein spots in the fore-midgut of R. perilucifugus workers fed with the same diet was significantly higher than that in the hindgut, while those in the fore-midgut and hindgut of workers fed with pine were the highest, those in the fore-midgut and hindgut of workers fed with filter paper followed, and those in the fore-midgut and hindgut of workers fed with straw were the least. The sequencing results of 115 protein points showed that the mainly differential proteins between the fore-midgut and hindgut were proteins with catalytic activity including enzymes related to amino acid metabolism, pyruvate metabolism, carbon metabolism, nitrogen metabolism, TCA cycle, glycolysis, gluconeogenesis and cellulose degradation and proteins involved in cellular components and signal transduction. 【Conclusion】 The differential proteins in the gut of R. perilucifugus workers fed with different diets are 
mainly proteins with catalytic activity, and proteins involved in cell composnents and signal transduction, indicating that different diets affect the composition of intestinal proteins of R. perilucifugus. These results provide data for revealing the degradation mechanism of lignocellulose in termites.

Key words: Reticulitermes perilucifugus; lignocellulose, two dimensional electrophoresis; intestinal contents, MALDI-TOF/TOF