CHAPTER 9: Functional Gene Resources from Cellulose-Feeding Insects for Novel Catalysts Check Access

Cellulolytic processes in insects are accomplished by masticating organs and enzyme digestion in the alimentary canal. With recent advancement of meta-sequencing technologies, functional gene resources of plant cell wall-degrading enzymes of insects are rapidly accumulating. Here we summarized reports on these enzymes based on glycoside hydrolase (GH) family classification, the insect origin of lignocellulolytic enzymes have been presented in the GH families of 1, 5, 9, 10, 11, 28, 45 and 48. Symbiotic origin of enzymes contained more multiple and diverse families, and the most important player is GH7 members. Compare to bulk gene sources, information on these enzyme properties are limited. To promote applied usage of these novel insect cellulolytic enzymes, construction of efficient recombinant production systems for those enzymes and their biochemical characterization are important.