title: Digestive enzymes from workers and soldiers of termite Nasutitermes corniger.
abstract: The digestive apparatus of termites may have several biotechnological applications, as well as being a target for pest control. This report discusses the detection of cellulases (endoglucanase, exoglucanase, and β-glucosidase), hemicellulases (β-xylosidase, α-l-arabinofuranosidase, and β-d-xylanase), α-amylase, and proteases (trypsin-like, chymotrypsin-like, and keratinase-type) in gut extracts from Nasutitermes corniger workers and soldiers. Additionally, the effects of pH (3.0-11.0) and temperature (30-100°C) on enzyme activities were evaluated. All enzymes investigated were detected in the gut extracts of worker and soldier termites. Endoglucanase and β-xylanase were the main cellulase and hemicellulase, respectively. Zymography for proteases of worker extracts revealed polypeptides of 22, 30, and 43kDa that hydrolyzed casein, and assays using protease inhibitors showed that serine proteases were the main proteases in worker and soldier guts. The determined enzyme activities and their response to different pH and temperature values revealed that workers and soldiers contained a distinct digestive apparatus. The ability of these termites to efficiently digest the main components of lignocellulosic materials stimulates the purification of gut enzymes. Further investigation into their biotechnological potential as well as whether the enzymes detected are produced by the termites or by their symbionts is needed.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Bioquímica-CCB, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Cidade Universitária, 50670-420 Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil.
authors.forename: Thâmarah de Albuquerque
authors.initials: Tde A
authors.lastname: Lima
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Bioquímica-CCB, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Cidade Universitária, 50670-420 Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil.
authors.forename: Emmanuel Viana
authors.initials: EV
authors.lastname: Pontual
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Bioquímica-CCB, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Cidade Universitária, 50670-420 Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil.
authors.forename: Leonardo Prezzi
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Dornelles
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Bioquímica-CCB, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Cidade Universitária, 50670-420 Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil.
authors.forename: Poliana Karla
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Amorim
authors.affiliation: Centro Acadêmico de Agreste, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Nova Caruaru, 55002-970 Caruaru, Pernambuco, Brazil.
authors.forename: Roberto Araújo
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Sá
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Bioquímica-CCB, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Cidade Universitária, 50670-420 Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil.
authors.forename: Luana Cassandra Breitenbach Barroso
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Coelho
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Bioquímica-CCB, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Cidade Universitária, 50670-420 Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil.
authors.forename: Thiago Henrique
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Napoleão
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Bioquímica-CCB, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Cidade Universitária, 50670-420 Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil. Electronic address: ppaivaufpe@yahoo.com.br.
authors.forename: Patrícia Maria Guedes
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Paiva
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002480:Cellulase / Q000378:metabolism*; D004064:Digestive System / Q000201:enzymology*; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D020049:Isoptera / Q000201:enzymology*; D010447:Peptide Hydrolases / Q000378:metabolism*; D013696:Temperature; D000516:alpha-Amylases / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000516:alpha-Amylases; D002480:Cellulase; D010447:Peptide Hydrolases
keywords: Amylase; Cellulase; Hemicellulase; Nasutitermes corniger; Serine proteases