Cellulose digestion in Panesthia cribrata Saussure: does fungal cellulase play a role?

The cockroach Panesthia cribrata inhabits wood extensively degraded by fungi. Fungal and minor cockroach endo-β-1,4-glucanase components co-eluted on Bio-Gel A-0.5 m. The minor cockroach endo-β-1,4-glucanase components were shown to be endogenous as they are present in the salivary glands, midgut ep...

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Published inComparative biochemistry and physiology. B, Comparative biochemistry Vol. 107; no. 2; pp. 309 - 315
Main Authors Scrivener, A.M., Slaytor, M.
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Elsevier Inc 1994
Subjects
beta-glucanase
Blaberidae
Blattella
Blattodea
Cellulose digestion
decay fungi
Fungal cellulase
Panesthia cribrata
Cellulose digestion
Fungal cellulase
Panesthia cribrata
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Summary:The cockroach Panesthia cribrata inhabits wood extensively degraded by fungi. Fungal and minor cockroach endo-β-1,4-glucanase components co-eluted on Bio-Gel A-0.5 m. The minor cockroach endo-β-1,4-glucanase components were shown to be endogenous as they are present in the salivary glands, midgut epithelia and in guts from P. cribrata maintained on cellulose and starch. Fungal cellulase was not present in the gut of P. cribrata, does not synergise with the cockroach cellulase and does not contribute to cellulose digestion in P. cribrata. Fungi are not required to convert crystalline to amorphous cellulose, as both are hydrolysed at similar rates by cockroach extracts. Fungal-produced sugars are not a significant source of carbohydrate for the cockroach. It is concluded that fungal attack softens the wood, facilitating burrowing by the cockroach.
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ISSN:0305-0491
DOI:10.1016/0305-0491(94)90053-1