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Potrikus CJ, Breznak JA. Gut bacteria recycle uric acid nitrogen in termites: A strategy for nutrient conservation. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1981;78(7):4601-5doi: 10.1073/pnas.78.7.4601.
Potrikus, C. J., & Breznak, J. A. (1981). Gut bacteria recycle uric acid nitrogen in termites: A strategy for nutrient conservation. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 78(7), 4601-5. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.78.7.4601
Potrikus, C J, and Breznak, J A. "Gut bacteria recycle uric acid nitrogen in termites: A strategy for nutrient conservation." Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America vol. 78,7 (1981): 4601-5. doi: https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.78.7.4601
Potrikus CJ, Breznak JA. Gut bacteria recycle uric acid nitrogen in termites: A strategy for nutrient conservation. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1981 Jul;78(7):4601-5. doi: 10.1073/pnas.78.7.4601. PMID: 16593064; PMCID: PMC319841.
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Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1981 Jul;78(7):4601-5. doi: 10.1073/pnas.78.7.4601.

Gut bacteria recycle uric acid nitrogen in termites: A strategy for nutrient conservation.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America

C J Potrikus, J A Breznak

Affiliations

  1. Department of Microbiology and Public Health, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824.

PMID: 16593064 PMCID: PMC319841 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.78.7.4601

Abstract

Reticulitermes flavipes termites synthesize uric acid via purine-nucleoside phosphorylase (purine-nucleoside: orthophosphate ribosyltransferase, EC 2.4.2.1) and xanthine dehydrogenase (xanthine:NAD(+) oxidoreductase, EC 1.2.1.37), but their tissues lack uricase (urate:oxygen oxidoreductase, EC 1.7.3.3) or any other enzyme that degrades uric acid. Nevertheless, uricolysis occurs in termites, but as an anaerobic process mediated by hindgut bacteria. (14)C-Tracer experiments showed that termites transport uric acid from the site of synthesis and storage (fat body tissue) to the site of degradation (hindgut microbiota) via Malpighian tubules. Moveover, [1,3-(15)N]uric acid dissimilated by gut bacteria in vivo leads to assimilation of (15)N into termite tissues. NH(3), a product of uricolysis, is a potential N source for termites, either directly via glutamine synthetase [L-glutamate:ammonia ligase (ADP-forming), EC 6.3.1.2] activity of fat body tissue or indirectly through microbe assimilation. Symbiotic recycling of uric acid N appears to be important to N conservation in these oligonitrotrophic insects.

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