Insect Science (2010) 17, 277-290

Jing Ke, Jian-Zhong Sun, Hung D. Nguyen, Deepak Singh, Karmen C. Lee, Haluk Beyenal and Shu-Lin Chen (2010)
In-situ oxygen profiling and lignin modification in guts of wood-feeding termites
Insect Science 17 (3), 277-290
Abstract: Reports on the capability of wood-feeding termites (WFTs) in degrading wood particles and on the existence of aerobic environment in the localized guts suggest that their high efficiency of cellulose utilization is not only caused by cellulase, but also by biochemical factors that pretreat lignin. We thus extend the hypothesis that for highly efficient accessibility of cellulose, there should be direct evidence of lignin modification before the hindgut. The lignin degradation/modification is facilitated by the oxygenated environment in intestinal microhabitats. To test our hypothesis, we conducted experiments using a dissolved oxygen microelectrode with a tip diameter < 10 μm to measure oxygen profiles in intestinal microhabitats of both Coptotermes formosanus (Shiraki) and Reticulitermes flavipes (Kollar). Lignin modification during passage through their three gut segments was also analyzed with pyrolysis gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. The data showed relatively high levels of oxygen in the midgut that could have promoted lignin oxidation. Consistent with the oxygen measurements, lignin modifications were also detected. In support of previously proposed hypotheses, these results demonstrate that lignin disruption, which pretreats wood for cellulose utilization, is initiated in the foregut, and continues in the midgut in both termites.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Link to article at publishers website
Database assignments for author(s): Jian-Zhong Sun

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
molecular biology - genes

---

Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Coptotermes formosanus		U.S.A. (mid S)
	Reticulitermes flavipes		U.S.A. (mid S)