How Termites Digest Wood
WouterA new study published in Biological Crystallography has shed light on how termites digest wood. In this study, scientists examined the role of bacteria and protozoa in the termite gut. This research could have an impact on the production of biofuels and help researchers identify enzymes that break down woody materials.
Termites can eat cellulose, but they do not have the ability to digest wood on their own. Instead, they depend on a symbiotic community of bacteria and protists. These microbes help the termite to convert cellulose into useful compounds.
The symbiotic bacteria live in specialized cells within the gills. They also provide nitrogen for the termite. As a result, they are able to survive.
To study the role of these bacteria in the termite’s digestion process, researchers took advantage of advanced genomics techniques. They sequenced thousands of genes. Then they analyzed their expression. They found that the gene expression changed significantly after the termite ate wood.
The researchers also studied the spatial distribution of cellulases in the midgut. They found that high concentrations of these enzymes attack ground-up wood. This discovery could lead to a new way to break down biomass for fuel and could potentially be used in a range of other industries.
These researchers were able to discover that the microbes in the termite gut are sensitive to oxygen and saline solutions. Their cells have special nuclei. This allows them to be transported to the gut. These nuclei contain chromosomes and DNA dye.
