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Your Position :Home->Past Journals Catalog->2009年46 No.1

Lignocellulolytic enzymes in termite and its symbiotic microbes
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Key Words:termite, symbiotic flagellate, fungi, bacteria, lignocellulolytic enzymes
Abstract:

Termites are important decomposers of lignocellulose in tropical ecosystems. They comprise a complex assemblage of diverse species, roughly divided into so-called lower and higher termites with different phagous characters. Termites can produce their own endoglucanases(EG)of GHF9, as well as glucosidase. Protistan symbiotic system of lower termite degrades cellulosic compounds with high efficiency. Diverse lignocellulolytic enzymes are found in this system including GHF5, 7 and 45. Other related functional genes may include xylanase and pectinolytic related enzymes. Higher termites don't harbor flagellate. Fungus-growing termites efficiently decompose lignocellulose through their symbiotic relationship with basidiomycete fungi of the genus Termitomyces. The symbiotic fungi produce cellulose, xylanase and putative pectinolytic enzymes. They also produce laccase which might be related to lignin degradation. However, on molecular level, studies on lignocellulolytic emzymes of symbiotic fungi are relatively few. Many lignocellulolytic bacteria strains were isolated from termite guts, divers cellulose genes were also found recently. Lignocellulolytic enzymes in termite and its symbiotic systems may have potentials for the idea of cellulosic ethanol production by biological process.



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