Influence of lignin in Reticulitermes santonensis: Symbiotic interactions investigated through proteomics
2013
Bauwens, Julien | Tarayre, Cédric | Brasseur, Catherine | Matteotti, Christel | Destain, Jacqueline | Vandenbol, Micheline | Portetelle, Daniel | Thonart, Philippe | De Pauw, Edwin | Haubruge, Eric | Francis, Frédéric
The gut of lower termites is populated by numerous microbial species belonging to prokaryotes, fungi, yeasts and protists. These micro-organisms are organized in a complex symbiotic system, interacting together and with the insect host. Their likely ability to degrade ligno-cellulosic compounds could lead to improvements in second generation biofuels production. Lignin elimination represents a critical point as this polymer significantly interferes with industrial process of cellulose. Although host produces its own lignin-degrading enzymes, some symbionts may participate in digestion of lignin and its degradation products in termite gut. Here, we compared gut proteomes from R. santonensis after rearing on artificial diets composed of cellulose with and without lignin. The effect of lignin in artificial diets on different parts of the digestive tract was compared through liquid chromatography associated with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) experiments. Enzymatic assays were performed to characterize activities present in R. santonensis digestive tract after feeding on artificial diets. Microscopic observations of microbial communities provided some information on population balances after feeding experiment. © 2013 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht.
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