Hidden cellulases in termites: revision of an old hypothesis

被引：121

作者：

Tokuda, Gaku ^{[1
]}

Watanabe, Hirofumi

机构：

[1] Univ Ryukyus, Ctr Mol Biosci, Okinawa 9030213, Japan

[2] Natl Inst Agrobiol Sci, Ibaraki 3058634, Japan

来源：

BIOLOGY LETTERS | 2007年 / 3卷 / 03期

关键词：

cellulase; termite; hindgut; bacteria; Termitidae; Nasutitermes;

D O I：

10.1098/rsbl.2007.0073

中图分类号：

Q [生物科学];

学科分类号：

07 ; 0710 ; 09 ;

摘要：

The intestinal flagellates of termites produce cellulases that contribute to cellulose digestion of their host termites. However, 75% of all termite species do not harbour the cellulolytic flagellates; the endogenous cellulase secreted from the midgut tissue has been considered a sole source of cellulases in these termites. Using the xylophagous flagellate-free termites Nasutitermes takasagoensis and Nasutitermes walkeri, we successfully solubilized cellulases present in the hindgut pellets. Zymograms showed that the hindguts of these termites possessed several cellulases and contained up to 59% cellulase activity against crystalline cellulose when compared with the midgut. Antibiotic treatment administered to N. takasagoensis significantly reduced cellulase activity in the hindgut, suggesting that these cellulases were produced by symbiotic bacteria.

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页码：336 / 339

页数：4

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