Cellulase Activity in Blood Cockle (<I>Anadara granosa</I>) in the Matang Mangrove Forest Reserve, Malaysia

• NIIYAMA Takatoshi

  Division of Applied Biosciences, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University

• TOYOHARA Haruhiko

  Division of Applied Biosciences, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University

• TANAKA Katsuhisa

  Fisheries Division, Japan International Research Center for Agricultural Sciences

Bibliographic Information

Other Title

• Cellulase Activity in Blood Cockle (Anadara granosa) in the Matang Mangrove Forest Reserve, Malaysia

Abstract

To validate the utilization of organic matter, mainly composed of cellulose derived from mangrove trees by bivalves, we analyzed the cellulase activity in blood cockles (Anadara granosa) in the Mantang Mangrove Forest Reserve, Malaysia. In an agar plate assay, unstained circles due to cellulase activity were clearly detected in the extract of blood cockle digestive organs. Additionally, SDS-PAGE zymographic analysis revealed intensive active bands at 9.5 kDa and weak smear bands above 24.5 kDa. These results clearly showed that the blood cockle, the dominant mangrove bivalve species, possesses cellulase activity used to break down cellulose derived from mangrove trees. The present paper first reports the occurrence of the cellulose breakdown function in a mangrove bivalve, blood cockle, via biochemical analyses and suggests the possible ecological function of this species in the mangrove food chain.

Journal

• Japan Agricultural Research Quarterly: JARQ

  Japan Agricultural Research Quarterly: JARQ 46 (4), 355-359, 2012

  Japan International Research Center for Agricultural Sciences

Keywords

• agar plate assay
• cellulose
• digestive organs
• zymography

Details

• CRID: 1390282679676990464
• NII Article ID: 130002148004
• DOI: 10.6090/jarq.46.355
• ISSN: 21858896
• ISSN: 00213551
• Text Lang: en
• Data Source:
  • JaLC
  • Crossref
  • CiNii Articles
• Abstract License Flag: Disallowed