Waste not, want not: Nitrogen recycling by metabolic pathways shared between an animal and its symbiotic bacteria

Research output: Contribution to journalArticle

Abstract

A combined computational and experimental analysis of metabolism in the symbiosis between the pea aphid and its obligate endosymbiont Buchnera aphidicola redefines existing notions of symbiotic nitrogen recycling. As a consequence of metabolic pathways shared between the partners, the insect recycles waste ammonia into essential amino acids (EAAs) that are lacking in its diet of sugar-rich but nitrogen-poor plant phloem sap.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)20-24
Number of pages5
JournalThe Biochemist
Volume35
Issue number4
Publication statusPublished - Aug 2013

Keywords

  • SYMBIOSIS
  • BACTERIA
  • APHIDS
  • BUCHNERA
  • NITROGEN

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