Lignin degradation in a symbiosis system of Macrotermes barneyi

摘要

In this study, to understand the efficiency of lignin deconstruction by fungus-growing termite Macrotermes barneyi which feed on softwood only contained guaiacyl lignin, the wood metabolites in the hindgut of M.barneyi were analyzed using direct pyrolysis-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Significant cleavage level of propyl side-chain of phenylpropane in the hindgut was detected, and ring hydroxylation was also observed by the detection of syringal lignin. Compared with the reduction of furfural content, a pyrolysis product of pentose polymers in hemicellulose, reduction of the content of guaiacyl lignin which contained one-carbon side chain was huger in the hindgut, indicating the degradation of depolymered lignin is greater than that of hemicellulose. The analysis of lignin structure in the gut is contributed to understand the mechanism of lignin degradation by fungus-growing termite.