Faecal proteinases of the fungus-growing ant, Atta texana: Their fungal origin and ecological significance
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Cited by (52)
Extracellular peptidases of insect-associated fungi and their possible use in biological control programs and as pathogenicity markers
2020, Fungal BiologyCitation Excerpt :Before leaf fragments are placed in a fungal garden, the ants crush the leaf mass to a homogeneous state and moisten it with fecal liquid, forming pellets that are inoculated with mycelium and placed on the top layer of the fungal garden. Hydrolytic enzymes identical to enzymes of the fungal symbionts grown on artificial nutrient media were found in the fecal liquid of the ants (Boyd and Martin, 1975a; 1975b). Subsequently, the identity of the enzymes in the secretions of ants with hydrolases of the fungal symbiont was suggested by isoelectric focusing (Ronhede et al., 2004), and for some enzymes this was confirmed by protein sequences (Schiott et al., 2008) as well as comparative genomic analysis (Kooij et al., 2014).
A metabolic pathway assembled by enzyme selection may support herbivory of leaf-cutter ants on plant starch
2013, Journal of Insect PhysiologyCitation Excerpt :Biochemical dependence in this interaction is one the most preponderant factors in maintaining the alliance between these organisms (Martin, 1970). One example of this interaction is the fungal origin of proteinases (Boyd and Martin, 1975) and pectinases (Ronhede et al., 2004; Schiøtt et al., 2010) found in the fecal fluid of workers of the leaf-cutters ants in different species. The excretion of digestive enzymes in the fecal material is proposed as an adaptation evolved in species of insects that cultivate fungi (Mishra, 1991).
Insect pathology
2012, Insect PathologyHydrolytic enzymes of leaf-cutting ant fungi
2009, Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology - B Biochemistry and Molecular BiologyDigestive enzymes in larvae of the leaf cutting ant, Acromyrmex subterraneus (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Attini)
2007, Journal of Insect PhysiologyDigestive enzymes of leaf-cutting ants, Acromyrmex subterraneus (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Attini): Distribution in the gut of adult workers and partial characterization
2004, Journal of Insect PhysiologyCitation Excerpt :Colonies of leaf-cutting ants have been likened to a super-organism (Wheeler, 1911) and it has been suggested that this inter-dependence has evolved to such a level that the insects cease to produce their own digestive enzymes as the fungus provides the ants with not only hydrolytic enzymes but also easily assimilated nutrients (Boyd and Martin, 1975a). Boyd and Martin (1975b) showed that three of the proteinases present in the rectal fluid of adult Atta texana were in fact obtained from the symbiotic fungus. However, in this case the ants appear to be acting as enzyme transporters, aiding the distribution of these enzymes within the colony to stimulate new fungal growth and facilitate the break down of plant material by defaecating on freshly cut leaves (Boyd and Martin, 1975a).