Darwin and Early Discoveries in Connection with Plant Hormones

Leach, J. G.; Granovsky, A. A.

doi:10.1126/science.87.2247.66-a

Cited by 14 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 5 publications

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“…Results are consistent with Leach and Granovsky's hypothesis (19), and also with our previous findings (28) that R. flavipes termites form UA but do not void the purine despite their lack of uricase. Presumably UA is catabolized by bacteria when it enters the gut, and therefore it is not found in the feces.…”

Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 93%

“…Intuitively, one might expect that xylophagous termites, which thrive on nitrogen-poor diets, would have evolved efficient means of conserving combined nitrogen. One strategy to accomplish this was envisioned by Leach and Granovsky (19). These workers hypothesized that UA, elaborated into the termite gut via the Malpighian tubules, is degraded by the hindgut microbiota to a form of nitrogen reusable by the insects.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Uric Acid-Degrading Bacteria in Guts of Termites [ Reticulitermes flavipes (Kollar)]

Potrikus

Breznak

1980

Appl Environ Microbiol

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Uricolytic bacteria were present in guts of Reticulitermes flavipes in populations up to 6 x 104 cells per gut. Of 82 strains isolated under strict anaerobic conditions, most were group N Streptococcus sp., Bacteroides termitidis, and Citrobacter sp. All isolates used uric acid (UA) as an energy source anaerobically, but not aerobically, and NH3 was the major nitrogenous product of uricolysis. However, none of the isolates had an absolute requirement for UA. Utilization of heterocyclic compounds other than UA was limited. Fresh ternite gut contents also degraded UA anaerobically, as measured by 14CO2 evolution from [2-'4C]UA. The magnitude of anaerobic uricolysis [0.67 pmol of UA catabolized/(gut x h)] was entirely consistent with the population density of uricolytic bacteria in situ. Uricolytic gut bacteria may convert UA in situ to products usable by termites for carbon, nitrogen, energy, or all three. This possibility is consistent with the fact that R. flavipes termites form UA, but they do not void the purine in excreta despite the lack of uricase in their tissues.

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Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 93%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Uric Acid-Degrading Bacteria in Guts of Termites [ Reticulitermes flavipes (Kollar)]

Potrikus

Breznak

1980

Appl Environ Microbiol

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“…Proctodeal trophallaxis is thought to play an especially important role in the nutritional economy in termites, because 1) microorganisms in the hindgut may serve as a nitrogen source (Noirot and Noirot-Timothée, 1969), and 2) some intestinal bacteria convert uric acid into usable nitrogenous compounds (Potrikus and Breznak, 1981). Thus, proctodeal trophallaxis should be a key behavior regulating the nutritional status of nitrogen-deficient termite colonies (Leach and Granovsky, 1938).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Nitrogen recycling through proctodeal trophallaxis in the Japanese damp-wood termite Hodotermopsis japonica (Isoptera, Termopsidae)

Machida¹,

Kitade

Miura³

et al. 2001

Insectes soc.

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Trophallaxis is one of a variety of nutritional tactics that enable termites to conserve and recycle nitrogenous compounds. In this study, we designed three experiments to reveal the function and importance of proctodeal trophallaxis in the Japanese damp-wood termite Hodotermopsis japonica. First, our observations showed that younger instars and soldiers tended to behave as recipients of proctodeal fluid, while older instars acted mainly as donors. Secondly, nitrogen-deficient groups of termite individuals were introduced to groups of nourished individuals; results indicate that the frequency of proctodeal trophallaxis was significantly higher than in control groups. Additionally, the nitrogen content in the proctodeal fluid of nitrogen-deficient individuals increased after trophallactic interactions with well-nourished individuals. Finally, we set up three groups reared with different concentrations of nitrogenous compounds (amino acids) in their diet, to investigate the correlation between the frequency of trophallactic behavior and the protein concentration of proctodeal fluid. As expected, proctodeal fluid of low protein content was frequently exchanged among individuals in nitrogen-poor conditions, while high-protein proctodeal fluid was transferred less frequently under nitrogen-rich conditions. These results suggest that termites have plasticity of trophallactic behavior in response to their nutritional conditions, and trophallaxis contributes to the nutritional homeostasis of colonies.

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“…An hypothesis to account for Cleveland's (1925a) finding that termites could survive on a diet of pure cellulose was put forward, but not tested, by Leach and Granovsky (1938). They suggested that termites may be able to re-utilize the nitrogen present in their uric acid stores, either directly or with the aid of microbial symbionts.…”

Section: Uric Acid Formation and Utilizationmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, Potrikus and Breznak (1980a) failed to detect any uricase activity in their termites. Potrikus and Breznak (1980b) tested the hypothesis of Leach and Granovsky (1938) by examining the gut of R. jlavipes for bacteria that were capable of utilizing uric acid both as a carbon and a nitrogen source. They isolated several bacteria capable of growth on uric acid plates (in numbers up to 6 X 10 4 cells per gut) and identified them as group N Streptococcus sp., Bacteroides termitidis and Citrobacter sp.…”

Section: Uric Acid Formation and Utilizationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Role of Microorganisms in the Metabolism of Termites

O'Brien¹,

Slaytor²

1982

Aust. Jnl. Of Bio. Sci.

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This article reviews the current knowledge of the role of symbiotic microorganisms in the metabolism of termites. The symbiotic microorganisms, comprising bacteria (higher and lower termites) and protozoa (lower termites) are in the hindgut. Cellulose digestion in higher termites appears to be mediated solely by cellulolytic enzymes secreted by the termites. In the lower termites, cellulose is digested by enzymes secreted both by the termites and by the protozoa. The end products of protozoal metabolism (acetate and butyrate) are thought to be used by termites as energy sources. Another method of cellulose digestion is that of the Macrotermitinae which have a symbiotic relationship with fungi of the genus Termitomyces. The termites acquire cellulase from the fungus. The bacteria found in the hindgut are usually facultative even though the hindgut is anaerobic. Some of these bacteria appear to be involved in dinitrogen-fixation in the gut, but do not play any part in cellulose metabolism. Some evidence suggests that termites may be able to re-utilize the nitrogen in the uric acid stores in their fat body using hindgut bacteria. While there is evidence that lignin can be degraded in termite tissues it is difficult to assess the role of the hindgut micro biota in this process. RaIe of Microorganisms in TermiteMetabolism 241

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Darwin and Early Discoveries in Connection with Plant Hormones

Cited by 14 publications

References 5 publications

Uric Acid-Degrading Bacteria in Guts of Termites [ Reticulitermes flavipes (Kollar)]

Uric Acid-Degrading Bacteria in Guts of Termites [ Reticulitermes flavipes (Kollar)]

Nitrogen recycling through proctodeal trophallaxis in the Japanese damp-wood termite Hodotermopsis japonica (Isoptera, Termopsidae)

Role of Microorganisms in the Metabolism of Termites

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