Enzymes for digestion of cellulose and other polysaccharides in the gut of longhorn beetle larvae, Rhagium inquisitor L. (Col., Cerambycidae)

V. V. Zverlov, W. Höll, W. H. Schwarz

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

24 Scopus citations

Abstract

The foregut, proximal and distal midgut, and hindgut of free living larvae of a bark runner, the longhorn beetle Rhagium inquisitor L., have been investigated for the presence of enzymes hydrolyzing a number of aryl-glycosides and polysaccharides representative of wood components. Specific activity was highest in the proximal midgut. No hydrolytic activity was found in control tissue, the extra-intestinal fat bodies. Activity was detected with CM-chitin, xylan, phosphoric-acid swollen cellulose, soluble starch, α-mannoside, β-glucoside, β-cellobioside and α-arabinoside. The highest activity was found on β-1,4-glucan and β-fucoside. No hydrolytic activity could be observed with crystalline cellulose. An identical molecular mass of 70 kDa for β-glucosidase and cellobiosidase was determined, corresponding to the major protein band. This suggests the absence of a cellobiohydrolase activity and thus a lack of fiber degradation ability. The endo-β-glucanase had a molecular mass of 32 kDa and an extremely broad pH-activity.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)175-179
Number of pages5
JournalInternational Biodeterioration and Biodegradation
Volume51
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - 2003

Keywords

  • Cellulose
  • Enzymatic activity
  • Fiber
  • Wood

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