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Journal of Wood Science

Official Journal of the Japan Wood Research Society

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Structural changes in lignin of tropical woods during digestion by termite, Cryptotermes brevis

Journal of Wood Science volume 53, pages 419–426 (2007)Cite this article

Abstract

Wood samples of apitong (Dipterocarpus grandiflorua) and ilang-ilang (Ilang-Ilang C. dadloyi) and feces of termites [Cryptotermes brevis (Walker)] fed on these woods were collected from University of the Philippines, Los Baňos. Lignin of each sample was isolated by Björkman’s procedure. There was no significant difference in 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectra or in the methoxyl content between Björkman lignins from original woods and termite feces. Differences were detected in the contents of aliphatic and unconjugated phenolic hydroxyl groups, suggesting minor structural changes of lignin during digestion by termites. In addition, the ratio of syringyl to guaiacyl nuclei of Björkman lignin from termite feces determined by 1H NMR spectra was higher than those from the original woods. The molar ratio of syringyl to guaiacyl nuclei of termite feces was higher than those from the original woods as determined by alkaline nitrobenzene oxidation. These results suggest that the structural changes of lignin in the termite gut are due to the insignificant formation of C-C linkages in guaiacyl nuclei. It was concluded that there were minor changes in the structural features of lignin under mostly anaerobic conditions, in contrast to the significant changes that occur through biological modification under aerobic conditions.

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Author notes

  1. Zhenfu Jin

    Present address: School of Engineering, Zhejiang Forestry University, Zhejiang, China

  2. Kenji Iiyama

    Present address: Japan International Research Center for Agricultural Sciences, 1-1 Ohwashi, Tsukuba, 305-8686, Japan

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, the University of Tokyo, Tokyo, 113-8657, Japan

    Kyoko S. Katsumata, Zhenfu Jin & Keko Hori

  2. Asian Natural Environmental Science Center, the University of Tokyo, Tokyo, 113-0033, Japan

    Kenji Iiyama

Authors
  1. Kyoko S. Katsumata
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  2. Zhenfu Jin
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  3. Keko Hori
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  4. Kenji Iiyama
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Correspondence to Kenji Iiyama.

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Katsumata, K.S., Jin, Z., Hori, K. et al. Structural changes in lignin of tropical woods during digestion by termite, Cryptotermes brevis . J Wood Sci 53, 419–426 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10086-007-0882-z

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