Fig. 2: Bacterial symbionts produce cyano-compounds in their host beetles.
From: Mandelonitrile produced by commensal bacteria protects the Colorado potato beetle against predation
a-c NaOH solution-extracted HCN amounts from whole body homogenates of controls and their corresponding bacteria removal (Aposymbiot) samples (n = 6). d HCN content of culturable bacteria (n = 4Headspace from LB, 6Headspace from Adult, 4Headspace from Larva, 3Supernatant from LB, 3Supernatant from Adult, 3Supernatant from Larva). e, f Contents of amygdalin and/or prunasin in the minimum medium (MM1) with amygdalin as carbon source, adult (Bacterium A) and larval (Bacterium L) culturable bacteria (n = 3). Amygdalin quantities in adult (g) (n = 3LB, TE, KA, ST, GE, MN, 4AM))- and larva (h) (n = 3LB, TE, KA, ST, GE, MN, 4AM))-originated bacteria in LB medium containing ampicillin (AM), tetracycline (TE), kanamycin (KA), streptomycin (ST), gentamicin (GE) or metronidazole (MN) respectively, and in isolated Adult1 and Larva1 cultured in LB medium (i) (n = 3LB, Larva1, n = 5Adult1) or from supernatant and precipitate bacteria solution (j) (n = 3). k, l HCN concentrations of single colonies (Adult1 and Larva1) cultured with LB medium (n = 3). m Benzaldehyde contents of single colonies (Adult1 and Larva1) cultured with LB medium (n = 3). For a–m, data are mean ± SD. F(a) = 950.674, P (a)= 3.02 × 10−11. F(b) = 560.165, P (b)= 4.11 × 10−10. F(c) = 2025.180, P(c) = 7.06 × 10−13. F(d-Headspace) = 64.894, P(d-Headspace) = 8.14 × 10−7. F(e-amygdalin) = 628.340, P(e-amygdalin) =1.07 × 10−7. F(e-prunasin) = 143.149, P (e-prunasin) = 8.65 × 10−6. F(f) = 48.432, P(f) = 1.98 × 10−4. F(g) = 36.062, P (g)= 4.40 × 10−8. F(h) = 43.739, P (h)= 1.15 × 10−8. F(i) = 83.854, P(i) = 4.30 × 10-6. F(j) = 61.444, P(j) = 5.30 × 10-7. F(k) = 323.593, P(k) = 7.75 × 10-7. F(l) = 330.558, P(l) = 1.42 × 10-10. F(m) = 174.789, P(m) = 4.80 × 10-6. Source data are provided as a Source Data file.
