title: Cellulose degradation by Leucocoprinus gongylophorus, the fungus cultured by the leaf-cutting ant Atta sexdens rubropilosa.
abstract: Leucocoprinus gongylophorus, the fungus cultured by the leaf-cutting ant Atta sexdens rubropilosa, is able to degrade efficiently cellulose, microcrystaline cellulose, carboximethylcellulose, and cellobiose. Analysis of the degradation products indicate that the fungus produce extracellular beta-glucosidase, exo- and endo-glucanase. The importance of cellulose degradation to the association of fungus and ant is discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Biosciences Institute of Rio Claro, UNESP, Brazil.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bacci
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Anversa
authors.forename: F C
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Pagnocca
mesh_terms: D000363:Agaricales / Q000201:enzymology*; D000818:Animals; D001000:Ants / Q000382:microbiology*; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D002266:Carboxymethylcellulose Sodium / Q000378:metabolism; D002475:Cellobiose / Q000378:metabolism; D002480:Cellulase / Q000378:metabolism; D002482:Cellulose / Q000378:metabolism*; D043326:Glucan 1,3-beta-Glucosidase; D001617:beta-Glucosidase / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D002475:Cellobiose; D002482:Cellulose; D001617:beta-Glucosidase; D002480:Cellulase; D043326:Glucan 1,3-beta-Glucosidase; D002266:Carboxymethylcellulose Sodium