Fig. 6
From: Characterisation of the enzyme transport path between shipworms and their bacterial symbionts
Diagram showing the shipworm anatomy and the proposed route by which bacteria and their secreted enzymes are transported. (1) Bacteria and their secreted CAZymes are found in the gill’s lamellae and in the ciliated epithelium, together with food particles. (2) Bacteria, prokaryotic CAZymes and food particles are channelled into the food groove and propelled by the movement of surface cilia towards the mouth and stomach. (3) In the stomach, the crystalline style grinds the incoming food particles and bacteria against the gastric shield, effectively releasing more CAZymes and mixing them with endogenous enzymes coming from the animal’s digestive glands. (4) A mix of eukaryotic and prokaryotic CAZymes reaches the caecum, where they digest the wood fibres