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RNA interference unveils the importance of Pseudotrichonympha grassii cellobiohydrolase , a protozoan exoglucanase, in termite cellulose degradation
Author(s) -
Liu X.J.,
Xie L.,
Liu N.,
Zhan S.,
Zhou X.G.,
Wang Q.
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
insect molecular biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.955
H-Index - 93
eISSN - 1365-2583
pISSN - 0962-1075
DOI - 10.1111/imb.12287
Subject(s) - biology , rna interference , cellulase , coptotermes , gene , rna , gene expression , botany , microbiology and biotechnology , biochemistry , enzyme
Based on prior work, a cellulase from glycosyl hydrolase family 7 (GHF7) was identified and found to be expressed at a high level in Coptotermes formosanus . To determine the function of GHF7 family members in vivo , we used RNA interference (RNAi) to functionally analyse the exoglucanase gene Pseudotrichonympha grassii cellobiohydrolase gene (PgCBH) , which was highly expressed in Pseudotrichonympha grassii , a flagellate found in the hindgut of C. formosanus . In this study, the expression level of PgCBH was down‐regulated by RNAi, causing the death of P. grassii , but no effect was observed for other flagellates found in C. formosanus . RNAi also resulted in significantly reduced exoglucanase activity, and no effect was observed for endoglucanase and β‐glucosidase activities. This result demonstrated that the PgCBH gene plays a role in the protist lignocellulolytic process and is also important for host survival. PgCBH can be used as a target gene and has potential as a bioinsecticide for use against termites.