Farhan Ahmad, Hu Jinhao, Muhammad Zohaib Nawaz, Mudasir A Dar, Raghda Nasser, Syed Zeeshan Haider, Waqar Ul Haq, Jianzhong Sun, Jianchu Mo, Daochen Zhu
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引用次数: 0
Abstract
Fungus-farming termites efficiently degrade recalcitrant lignocellulose through a symbiotic relationship with Termitomyces and the gut microbiome, making them successful key decomposers in (sub)tropical ecosystems. Despite extensive research on plant biomass decomposition, the mechanisms of lignin degradation in fungus-farming termites remain elusive. In view of this information gap, the present study employed several analytical approaches and ligninolytic enzyme assays to investigate lignin modification in the symbiotic system of a fungus-farming termite, Macrotermes barneyi. The results revealed the structural modification of lignin across different points of the degradation process. Enzyme assays of termite guts and fungus combs showed the obvious differences in ligninolytic enzyme activity at different sites of decomposition, likely initiating the modification of lignin. The findings of the current study support the hypothesis that although young workers start the modification of lignin to some extent, they largely leave the lignin monomers p-hydroxyphenyl (H), guaiacyl (G) and syringyl (S) intact. Most of the lignin-derived compounds are transferred to the fresh comb, where the majority of lignin modification begins and continues in mature and older parts of the comb. This study provides new insights into biomass degradation within the microsymbiotic system of an insect. A better understanding of these mechanisms has the promising potential for unlocking new lignin-degrading agents for the production of renewable energy.
期刊介绍:
Insect Science is an English-language journal, which publishes original research articles dealing with all fields of research in into insects and other terrestrial arthropods. Papers in any of the following fields will be considered: ecology, behavior, biogeography, physiology, biochemistry, sociobiology, phylogeny, pest management, and exotic incursions. The emphasis of the journal is on the adaptation and evolutionary biology of insects from the molecular to the ecosystem level. Reviews, mini reviews and letters to the editor, book reviews, and information about academic activities of the society are also published.