Digestive enzymes from workers and soldiers of termite Nasutitermes corniger.
Comp Biochem Physiol B Biochem Mol Biol
; 176: 1-8, 2014 Oct.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-25026598
ABSTRACT
The digestive apparatus of termites may have several biotechnological applications, as well as being a target for pest control. This report discusses the detection of cellulases (endoglucanase, exoglucanase, and ß-glucosidase), hemicellulases (ß-xylosidase, α-l-arabinofuranosidase, and ß-d-xylanase), α-amylase, and proteases (trypsin-like, chymotrypsin-like, and keratinase-type) in gut extracts from Nasutitermes corniger workers and soldiers. Additionally, the effects of pH (3.0-11.0) and temperature (30-100°C) on enzyme activities were evaluated. All enzymes investigated were detected in the gut extracts of worker and soldier termites. Endoglucanase and ß-xylanase were the main cellulase and hemicellulase, respectively. Zymography for proteases of worker extracts revealed polypeptides of 22, 30, and 43kDa that hydrolyzed casein, and assays using protease inhibitors showed that serine proteases were the main proteases in worker and soldier guts. The determined enzyme activities and their response to different pH and temperature values revealed that workers and soldiers contained a distinct digestive apparatus. The ability of these termites to efficiently digest the main components of lignocellulosic materials stimulates the purification of gut enzymes. Further investigation into their biotechnological potential as well as whether the enzymes detected are produced by the termites or by their symbionts is needed.
Key words
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Peptide Hydrolases
/
Cellulase
/
Isoptera
/
Digestive System
/
Alpha-Amylases
Limits:
Animals
Language:
En
Journal:
Comp Biochem Physiol B Biochem Mol Biol
Journal subject:
BIOLOGIA MOLECULAR
/
BIOQUIMICA
Year:
2014
Document type:
Article
Affiliation country: