Inulase had received little attention and there were conflicting statements about its availability in animals.Adapted anthrone-sulfuric acid and Nelson-Somogyi reagents were used for identifying fructose concentration in inulin hydrolyzed by insect and aerobic bacteria extracts as a measure of inulase activity.Bacteria isolated from the insect’s gut were grown in nutrient agar and their extracts were used in hydrolyzing inulin. Aerobic bacteria-free insect extracts were obtained by injecting aureomycin into the gut of the cockroaches.There was no significant aureomycin effect on inulase production by the insects. The greatest inulase activity was around the gastric ceaca region. The major inulase requirement of the insects was met by gastric ceaca region production and not by the bacteria. The assertion that inulase may not be found in animal workd (Bernfeld 1962, Doby 1965, Hoar 1966) is unsupported. Periplaneta americana (Linnaeus) and Blaberus giganteus (Linnaeus) have inulase in their gastric caeca regions.Studies of inulase could lead to better understanding of cockroach physiology and their symbionts. If inulase is eventually synthesized in the laboratory a significant amount of inulin energy would become available to man through the use of synthetic inulase.Honors CollegeBall State UniversityMuncie, IN 47306
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:BSU/oai:cardinalscholar.bsu.edu:handle/180590 |
| Date | 03 June 2011 |
| Creators | Adeyinka, Jacob Adeyemi |
| Contributors | Zimmack, Harold L. |
| Source Sets | Ball State University |
| Detected Language | English |
| Format | 71 leaves : ill. ; 28 cm. |
| Source | Virtual Press |
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