Digestive enzymes from workers and soldiers of termite Nasutitermes corniger

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 β-glucosidase), hemicellulases (β-xylosidase, α-l-arabinofuranosidase, and β-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 β-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.

Binding targets of termiticidal lectins from the bark and leaf of Myracrodruon urundeuva in the gut of Nasutitermes corniger workers

“…Lectins may exert inhibitory or stimulatory effects on insect enzymes, leading to deregulation of digestion . Thus, the effects of MuBL and MuLL on the activities of digestive enzymes from the gut of N. corniger workers were determined, because these enzymes are important for the nutrition of this wood‐damaging and soil‐feeding termite …”

“…In addition, these insects can digest the components of lignocellulosic materials through the action of cellulases and hemicellulases, which are produced by symbiotic microorganisms or by the termites . Lima et al . reported the activity of cellulases (endoglucanase, exoglucanase, and β‐glucosidase), hemicellulases (β‐xylosidase, α‐L‐arabinofuranosidase, and β‐D‐xylanase), α‐amylase, and proteases (trypsin‐like, chymotrypsin‐like, and keratinase‐type) in the gut of N. corniger workers and soldiers.…”

Species-wide Metabolic Interaction Network for Understanding Natural Lignocellulose Digestion in Termite Gut Microbiota

“…Diverse microbial communities residing in distinct gut compartments of N . corniger are responsible for developing this remarkable system of lignocellulose deconstruction and subsequent fermentation 7 . Each microbial entity is metabolically interacting with diverse community members through the exchange of small metabolites 8 .…”

The de novo transcriptome of workers head of the higher group termite Globitermes sulphureus Haviland (Blattodea: Termitidae)

“…These enzymes have demonstrated great potential for bioenergy applications (Brune, 2014; Scharf and Tartar, 2008; Singhania et al., 2013). Endo-β-1,4-glucanases and β-glucosidases are the key enzymes for cellulose digestion (Brune, 2014; Bujang et al., 2014; Lima et al., 2014; Ni and Tokuda, 2013).…”