Indian Journal of Science and Technology
DOI: 10.17485/ijst/2012/v5i12.5
Year: 2012, Volume: 5, Issue: 12, Pages: 1-5
Original Article
*Haloi D. J1 , Borkotoki A2 , Mahanta R3 , Haloi I. H4
1,4Department of Zoology, Handique Girls’ College,
2 Department of Zoology ,Gauhati University,
3 Department of Zoology, Cotton College,1 [email protected], 2[email protected], 3[email protected], 4[email protected]
*Author For Correspondence
Haloi D. J
Department of Zoology
Email: [email protected]
Grasshopper (Hieroglyphus banian), an orthopteran species is considered to be a serious pest of rice plant in India. To study the activity and kinetics of cellulase in grasshopper this experiment is undertaken and accordingly foregut and midgut homogenates were prepared. The cellulase enzyme activity and kinetics was measured by DNSA method of Miller,(1959) by taking different concentrations of crystalline cellulose substrate in spectrophotometer at 540nm. Cellulase activity in foregut and midgut were found to be 0.482 u/mg of tissue and 0.687u/mg of tissue respectively. Km values were determined separately both in foregut and midgut and were found to be 3 mg/dl and 2 mg/dl respectively. Experimental data indicates the presence of high cellulolytic activity in the midgut which may suggest that cellulases of endogenous origin are present in this organism. It can be expected that in future, detailed study of these efficient lignocellulolytic systems will help in identification of novel enzymes possessing features that optimize biotechnological applications for the biofuel industry. Moreover, identification of crucial insect cellulases may help in the development of insecticidal technologies aimed at inhibiting their vital digestive role. Considering that this grasshopper species is a pest of paddy and grass, characterization of insect cellulolytic systems may aid in reducing the grasshopper pest attack in Indian subcontinent.
Keywords: Cellulase, Kinetics, Hieroglyphus banian, Foregut, Midgut
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