Has substrate-dependent co-evolution of enzyme function occured in the attine ant-fungus symbiosis

Henrik Hjarvard de Fine Licht; Morten Schiøtt; Jacobus Jan Boomsma

Has substrate-dependent co-evolution of enzyme function occured in the attine ant-fungus symbiosis

Henrik Hjarvard de Fine Licht, Morten Schiøtt, Jacobus Jan Boomsma

Ecology and Evolution

Abstract

The conspicuous leaf-cutter ants in the genus Atta build huge nests displacing several cubic meters of soil, whereas lower attine genera such as Cyphomyrmex have small nests with a fungus garden the size of a table-tennis ball. Only the leaf-cutter ants are specialized on using fresh leaves as substrate for their fungus gardens, whereas the more basal attine genera use substrates such as flowers, plant debris, small twigs, insect feces and insect carcasses. This diverse array of fungal substrates across the attine lineage implies that the symbiotic fungus needs different enzymes to break down the plant material that the ants provide or different efficiencies of enzyme function. Here we present the fist partial amino acid sequences from a fungal xylanase gene to test the hypothesis that fungal enzymes that degrade plant cell walls have functionally co-evolved with the ants.

Original language	English
Publication date	2007
Number of pages	1
Publication status	Published - 2007
Event	Population and Evolutionary Biology of Fungal Symbionts - Ascona, Switzerland Duration: 29 Apr 2007 → 4 May 2007

Conference

Conference	Population and Evolutionary Biology of Fungal Symbionts
Country/Territory	Switzerland
City	Ascona
Period	29/04/2007 → 04/05/2007

Cite this

Has substrate-dependent co-evolution of enzyme function occured in the attine ant-fungus symbiosis. / de Fine Licht, Henrik Hjarvard; Schiøtt, Morten; Boomsma, Jacobus Jan.
2007. Abstract from Population and Evolutionary Biology of Fungal Symbionts, Ascona, Switzerland.

Research output: Contribution to conference › Conference abstract for conference › Research › peer-review

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abstract = "The conspicuous leaf-cutter ants in the genus Atta build huge nests displacing several cubic meters of soil, whereas lower attine genera such as Cyphomyrmex have small nests with a fungus garden the size of a table-tennis ball. Only the leaf-cutter ants are specialized on using fresh leaves as substrate for their fungus gardens, whereas the more basal attine genera use substrates such as flowers, plant debris, small twigs, insect feces and insect carcasses. This diverse array of fungal substrates across the attine lineage implies that the symbiotic fungus needs different enzymes to break down the plant material that the ants provide or different efficiencies of enzyme function. Here we present the fist partial amino acid sequences from a fungal xylanase gene to test the hypothesis that fungal enzymes that degrade plant cell walls have functionally co-evolved with the ants.",

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AU - de Fine Licht, Henrik Hjarvard

AU - Schiøtt, Morten

AU - Boomsma, Jacobus Jan

PY - 2007

Y1 - 2007

N2 - The conspicuous leaf-cutter ants in the genus Atta build huge nests displacing several cubic meters of soil, whereas lower attine genera such as Cyphomyrmex have small nests with a fungus garden the size of a table-tennis ball. Only the leaf-cutter ants are specialized on using fresh leaves as substrate for their fungus gardens, whereas the more basal attine genera use substrates such as flowers, plant debris, small twigs, insect feces and insect carcasses. This diverse array of fungal substrates across the attine lineage implies that the symbiotic fungus needs different enzymes to break down the plant material that the ants provide or different efficiencies of enzyme function. Here we present the fist partial amino acid sequences from a fungal xylanase gene to test the hypothesis that fungal enzymes that degrade plant cell walls have functionally co-evolved with the ants.

AB - The conspicuous leaf-cutter ants in the genus Atta build huge nests displacing several cubic meters of soil, whereas lower attine genera such as Cyphomyrmex have small nests with a fungus garden the size of a table-tennis ball. Only the leaf-cutter ants are specialized on using fresh leaves as substrate for their fungus gardens, whereas the more basal attine genera use substrates such as flowers, plant debris, small twigs, insect feces and insect carcasses. This diverse array of fungal substrates across the attine lineage implies that the symbiotic fungus needs different enzymes to break down the plant material that the ants provide or different efficiencies of enzyme function. Here we present the fist partial amino acid sequences from a fungal xylanase gene to test the hypothesis that fungal enzymes that degrade plant cell walls have functionally co-evolved with the ants.

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T2 - Population and Evolutionary Biology of Fungal Symbionts

Y2 - 29 April 2007 through 4 May 2007

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