According to researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute, California and the Verenium Corporation, the abdomen of termites contain microbes that have now been tapped as a rich source of enzymes for improving the conversion of wood or waste biomass to valuable bio-fuels.
As we know termites can digest a huge amount of wood in a very short time. Instead of using harsh chemicals or excess heat to do so, termites employ an assortment of specialized microbes in their stomach to break down the cell walls of plant material.
Like cows, termites have a series of stomachs, each harboring a distinct community of microbes under precisely defined conditions. The task now in front of the scientists is to discover the metabolic pathways generated by the enzymes to figure out how nature digests plant materials. Then they can synthesize the novel enzymes discovered through this project to accelerate the delivery of the next generation of cellulosic biofuels.
Via: Enn
