Can (13)C stable isotope analysis uncover essential amino acid provisioning by termite-associated gut microbes?

ABSTRACT: Gut-associated microbes of insects are postulated to provide a variety of nutritional functions including provisioning essential amino acids (EAAs). Demonstrations of EAA provisioning in insect-gut microbial systems, nonetheless, are scant. In this study, we investigated whether the eastern subterranean termite Reticulitermes flavipes sourced EAAs from its gut-associated microbiota. δ (13)CEAA data from termite carcass, termite gut filtrate and dietary (wood) samples were determined following (13)C stable isotope analysis. Termite carcass samples (-27.0 ± 0.4‰, mean ± s.e.) were significantly different from termite gut filtrate samples (-27.53 ± 0.5‰), but not the wood diet (-26.0 ± 0.5‰) (F (2,64) = 6, P < 0.0052). δ (13)CEAA-offsets between termite samples and diet suggested possible non

SUBMITTER: Ayayee PA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4556154 | biostudies-literature | 2015

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature