animals cannot produce enzymes to digest cellulose, yet many termite species consume cellulose from plant material as a main par
1 answer:
Answer:
Termites have cellulose-digesting protists in their guts.
Explanation:
Termites are able to access nutrients contained in cellulose due to their mutualistic association with some cellulose-digesting protists such as <em>Trichonympha</em> and M<em>ixotricha</em>. The protists produce cellulase in addition to other glycolytic enzymes that work together to convert cellulose to malate.
The malate produced is further metabolized to produce , hydrogen, acetate and energy in the form of ATP.
The protists get sheltered in the termite's gut in return.
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