Why Can Termites Digest Cellulose?
WouterCellulose is the main carbohydrate in plant cell walls. It is made of a series of straight chains of glucose. It is crystalline in nature, and it does not dissolve water. It can be found in paper and other refined forms. It is the most common naturally occurring compound on earth.
Most animals, including insects, lack an enzyme for cellulose digestion. However, ruminants can digest cellulose because they have bacteria that do it. And protozoa can also break down wood.
Termites may have developed a special symbiosis with protozoa that has allowed them to digest cellulose. During the process, the protozoa release acetic acid and other acids. This helps the termite break down the cellulose in the wood. The resulting compounds are then released into the gut.
During the process, the bacteria in the termite gut help the protozoans to break down the cellulose. They also aid in the digestion of food.
During the process, the protozoa and the bacteria in the termite gut live in close association. The bacteria are able to produce enzymes that can help the termites break down the cellulose.
These bacteria can also live in the protozoan cells. This is important since protozoa cannot digest cellulose by themselves.
In addition, the protozoans in the termite gut can produce a type of cellulase. The activity of this enzyme was measured in the colon, midgut, and salivary glands. It was lower in the salivary glands, but higher in the midgut and colon.
