Screening Termite Species for Laccase: Role of Symbiotic Fungi

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Abstract
A survey for laccase, an enzyme involved in phenol oxidation, was carried out in 23 termite species from three different feeding guilds. In soil-feeding (6 species) and wood-feeding (7 species) termites, laccase activity was not detected. In contrast, all the fungus-growing termites (10 species) tested showed laccase activity. The symbiotic fungi (conidia) and fungus combs showed higher activity than the termites themselves in 6 species: Macrotermes bellicosiis, M. miilleri, Odontotermes sp., O. sp. aff. interveniens, Pseudacanthotermes spiniger and P. militaris. Fungus combs always had the highest laccase activity. The absence of laccase activity in soil-feeding and wood-feeding termites is discussed. The presence of laccase activity in both termites and Termitomyces constitutes novel information relevant to the degradation of phenols.