PMID: 11916111Mar 28, 2002Paper

The role of the symbiotic fungus in the digestive metabolism of two species of fungus-growing ants

Journal of Comparative Physiology. B, Biochemical, Systemic, and Environmental Physiology
P D'EttorreChristine Errard

Abstract

Leaf-cutting ants live in an obligatory symbiosis with a fungus which they grow on fresh leaves harvested by workers. This study attempts to clarify the respective role of ants and fungus in the degradation of plant material, in order to highlight the evolutionary basis of this mutualistic association. The symbiotic system of two ant species, Acromyrmex subterraneus subterraneus and Acromyrmex crassispinus, was investigated. To identify the digestive carbohydrases, a total of 19 specific and synthetic plant material substrates were tested on workers from different castes (major and minor), larvae and fungus. Extracts of A. subterraneus and A. crassispinus workers showed high enzymatic activity particularly on starch, maltose, sucrose and alpha-1,4 glucoside. Larvae degraded starch, sucrose, maltose but also laminarin, and all the detected activities were higher than those found for workers. The symbiotic fungus of A. subterraneus was mostly active on laminarin, xylan and cellulose, while the symbiotic fungus of A. crassispinus was mostly active on laminarin, starch, maltose and sucrose. The enzymatic activities of ants and fungus belonging to the same symbiotic system tended not to overlap, suggesting that the association is hi...Continue Reading

Citations

Apr 19, 2005·Journal of Comparative Physiology. B, Biochemical, Systemic, and Environmental Physiology·Freddie-Jeanne RichardCorinne Rouland
Nov 20, 2013·Comptes rendus biologies·Ruth MonyCorinne Rouland-Lefèvre
Apr 15, 2014·Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology·L Lange, M N Grell
Apr 5, 2014·Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology·Ariele C MoreiraDulce Helena F Souza
Jun 22, 2002·Journal of Economic Entomology·S Delgarde, C Rouland-Lefevre
Oct 14, 2008·Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology. Part B, Biochemistry & Molecular Biology·Milton ErthalRichard Ian Samuels
Aug 8, 2007·Journal of Insect Physiology·Milton ErthalRichard Ian Samuels
May 29, 2009·Evolution; International Journal of Organic Evolution·Michael PoulsenJacobus J Boomsma
Aug 21, 2013·Molecular Ecology·Allison K Hansen, Nancy A Moran
Jan 1, 2012·Insects·Frank O AylwardGarret Suen
May 8, 2014·The Journal of Experimental Biology·J N SealU G Mueller

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