Extracellular nutrient digestion and absorption in the insect gut

doi:10.1007/s00441-019-03031-9

Review

. 2019 Sep;377(3):397-414.

doi: 10.1007/s00441-019-03031-9. Epub 2019 Apr 29.

Extracellular nutrient digestion and absorption in the insect gut

Michiel Holtof¹, Cynthia Lenaerts¹, Darron Cullen², Jozef Vanden Broeck³

Affiliations

¹ Department of Animal Physiology and Neurobiology, Zoological Institute KU Leuven, Naamsestraat 59 box 2465, B-3000, Leuven, Belgium.
² Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge, CB2 3EJ, UK.
³ Department of Animal Physiology and Neurobiology, Zoological Institute KU Leuven, Naamsestraat 59 box 2465, B-3000, Leuven, Belgium. jozef.vandenbroeck@kuleuven.be.

PMID: 31037358
DOI: 10.1007/s00441-019-03031-9

Review

Extracellular nutrient digestion and absorption in the insect gut

Michiel Holtof et al. Cell Tissue Res. 2019 Sep.

. 2019 Sep;377(3):397-414.

doi: 10.1007/s00441-019-03031-9. Epub 2019 Apr 29.

Authors

Michiel Holtof¹, Cynthia Lenaerts¹, Darron Cullen², Jozef Vanden Broeck³

Affiliations

¹ Department of Animal Physiology and Neurobiology, Zoological Institute KU Leuven, Naamsestraat 59 box 2465, B-3000, Leuven, Belgium.
² Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge, CB2 3EJ, UK.
³ Department of Animal Physiology and Neurobiology, Zoological Institute KU Leuven, Naamsestraat 59 box 2465, B-3000, Leuven, Belgium. jozef.vandenbroeck@kuleuven.be.

PMID: 31037358
DOI: 10.1007/s00441-019-03031-9

Abstract

Insects are the most abundant and diverse class of animals on the planet. One explanation for their success is their extraordinary ability to successfully consume a wide range of foods. Like all heterotrophic organisms, insects need to acquire vital nutrients from their diet. The central organ for food digestion and absorption of nutrients is the gastrointestinal tract. This organ's principal functions are mediating the efficient digestion of the diet and protecting the organism against harmful chemicals, microorganisms, and mechanical damage from the food. These functions are achieved through regional differentiation of the alimentary canal as well as highly flexible adaptations to the consumed diets, both at anatomical and molecular levels. Numerous studies describing the general gut morphology and associated digestive mechanisms of various insects exist. Nevertheless, the molecular patterns underlying digestion and nutrient uptake in insects are still poorly characterized. This review aims to provide an overview of the general strategies of extracellular macronutrient digestion and consequent nutrient absorption found among different orders of insects.

Keywords: Digestive enzymes; Gastrointestinal tract; Insect; Nutrient absorption; Nutrient digestion.

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Extracellular nutrient digestion and absorption in the insect gut

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Extracellular nutrient digestion and absorption in the insect gut

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