File:Termite endosymbiont metabolism organization and localization.jpg

English: The hindgut lumen is microoxic near the wall from host tissues; the peripheral oxygen is quickly used by bacteria ectosymbionts on oxymonads attached to the wall, and other bacteria and methanogens in the periphery; Parabasalia (oval cell) harbour ectosymbiont and endosymbiont bacteria, that together transform the wood into glucose, acetate, lactate and nitrogenous organic molecules; the main metabolic outcome of carbon metabolism is the production of acetate from glucose by digestion of cellulose; the acetate is synthesised into short chain fatty acids in excess and it is absorbed by the intestine wall epithelium; oxygenic synthesis of acetate from lactate occurs in the periphery by bacteria; most of the hydrogen is consumed by methanogens and some in the synthesis of acetate from H2 and CO2; a small amount of formate is present that is probably synthesised into acetate. Citation: S. Adl (2024). Organellar loss and gain of function. In: Protistology (Elsevier), Chapter 21.