I ask this question because I am wondering if termites secrete specialized enzymes, a cocktail of lignolytic chemicals, or there is another way they do it. Is it specific (stereo-, chemo-, etc.)?
Our group carried out some work in early 2000. I shall double check and get back to you.
MS
There is an article in Holzforschung 53(1999)244-246 "Estimation of effect of passage through the gut of a lower termite, Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki, on lignin by solid-state CP/MAS 13C NMR" by Hyodo, Azuma and Abe from Kyoto
Thank you, Elisabet, very cool - thank you very much! I appreciate your time!
Lucian
I found : "Review :Termite digestomes as sources for novel lignocellulases" , by Michael E. Scharf, University of Florida,Gainesville, FL
Aurélien Tartar, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL.
Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com); DOI: 10.1002/bbb.107;
Biofuels, Bioprod. Bioref. (2008)
Termites carry a specific micro flora (bacteria, protozoa, ) in their digestive tract that degrades mainly cellulose and perhaps lignin as well. Presently, I am not aware if somebody has looked more specifically in to the enzyme systems produced by this micro flora. It was once our goal to go after these enzymes to see if they can be blocked and by these methods control the termite populations.
The protozoa in the digestive tract of termites like the cellulase of the brown rot fungi must operate in a similar fashion. Raman spectroscopy in conjunction with NMR offers opportunity to thoroughly understand how termite protozoa and brown rot cellulase remove cellulose to preserve the native states of lignin. Here, a good research plan would go a long way.
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