Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Glycoside hydrolases of rumen bacteria and protozoa

  • Published:
Current Microbiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Sixteen strains of rumen bacteria and 21 protozoal preparations were screened for glycoside hydrolase and phosphatase activity, using 22 nitrophenyl glycoside substrates. The range and level of bacterial enzyme activities were species dependent, although, the glycosidases associated with plant cell wall breakdown were most active in the cellulolytic and hemicellulolytic species. Alkaline phosphatase occurred widely in the organisms examined, but was most active in the twoBacteroides ruminicola strains.

A wide range of enzyme activities was also detected in the holotrich and Entodiniomorphid ciliates isolated from the rumen or cultured in vitro. The glycosidases involved in cellulose and hemicellulose breakdown were detected in all of the protozoa examined, and, with the exception ofEntodinium spp., were most active in the Entodiniomorphid protozoa; α-l-arabinofuranosidase, an essential hemicellulolytic glycoside hydrolase, was particularly active in this latter group of ciliates.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Literature Cited

  1. Abou Akkada, A. R., Howard, B. H. 1960. The biochemistry of rumen protozoa. 3. The carbohydrate metabolism ofEntodinium. Biochemical Journal76:445–451.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Avila, J. L., Casanova, M. A., Avila, A., Bretana, A. 1979. Acid and neutral hydrolases inTrypanosoma cruzi. Journal of Protozoology26:304–311.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Bailey, R. W. 1958. The carbohydrases of the cattle rumen ciliateEpidinium ecaudatum Crawley isolated from cows fed on red clover (Trifolium pratense L). New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research1:825–833.

    Google Scholar 

  4. Bailey, R. W. 1963. The intracellular α-galactosidase of a rumen strain ofStreptococcus bovis. Biochemical Journal86:509–514.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Bailey, R. W., Gaillard, B. D. E. 1965. Carbohydrases of the rumen ciliateEpidinium ecaudatum (Crawley): hydrolysis of plant hemicellulose fractions and β-linked glucose polymers. Biochemical Journal95:758–766.

    Google Scholar 

  6. Bailey, R. W., Howard, B. H. 1963. The biochemistry of rumen protozoa. 6. The maltases ofDasytricha ruminantium, Epidinium ecaudatum (Crawley) andEntodinium caudatum. Biochemical Journal86:446–452.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Bailey, R. W., Howard, B. H. 1963. Carbohydrases of the rumen ciliateEpidinium ecaudatum Crawley. 2. α-Galactosidase and isomaltase. Biochemical Journal87:146–151.

    Google Scholar 

  8. Bailey, R. W., Clarke, R. T. J., Wright, D. E. 1962. Carbohydrase of the rumen ciliateEpidinium ecaudatum (Crawley). Action on plant hemicellulose. Biochemical Journal83:517–523.

    Google Scholar 

  9. Baker, W. B., Buetow, D. W. 1976. Hydrolytic enzymes ofEuglena gracilis: characterization and activity as a function of culture age and carbon deprivation. Journal of Protozoology23:167–176.

    Google Scholar 

  10. Berg, J.-O. 1981. Cellular localization of glycoside hydrolases inBacteroides fragilis. Current Microbiology5:13–17.

    Google Scholar 

  11. Berg, J.-O., Lindqvist, L., Nord, C. E. 1980. Purification of glycoside hydrolases fromBacteroides fragilis. Applied and Environmental Microbiology40:40–47.

    Google Scholar 

  12. Berg, J.-O., Nord, C. E., Wadstrom, T. 1978. Formation of glycosidases in batch and continuous culture ofBacteroides fragilis. Applied and Environmental Microbiology35:269–273.

    Google Scholar 

  13. Brough, B. E., Howard, B. H. 1970. The biochemistry of the rumen bacterium “Quin's Oval.” 2. The carbohydrase enzymes. New Zealand Journal of Science13:576–583.

    Google Scholar 

  14. Caldwell, D. R., Bryant, M. P. 1966. Medium without rumen fluid for non-selective enumeration and isolation of rumen bacteria. Applied Microbiology14:794–801.

    Google Scholar 

  15. Cheng, K.-J., Costerton, J. W. 1977. Alkaline phosphatase activity of rumen bacteria. Applied and Environmental Microbiology34:586–590.

    Google Scholar 

  16. Coleman, G. S. 1978. Rumen entodiniomorphid protozoa, pp. 39–54. In: Taylor, A. E. R., Baker, J. R. (eds.), Methods of cultivating parasites in vitro. London: Academic Press.

    Google Scholar 

  17. Coleman, G. S. 1980. Rumen ciliate protozoa, pp. 121–163. In: Lumsden, W. H. R., Muller, R., Baker, J. R. (eds.), Advances in parasitology, vol. 18. London: Academic Press.

    Google Scholar 

  18. Coleman, G. S., Lawrie, J. I. 1977. The metabolism of starch, glucose, amino acids, purines, pyrimidines and bacteria by the rumen ciliatePolyplastron multivesiculatum. Journal of General Microbiology98:29–37.

    Google Scholar 

  19. Coleman, G. S., Sandford, D. C. 1979. The engulfment and digestion of mixed rumen bacteria and individual bacterial species by single and mixed species of rumen protozoa grown in vivo. Journal of Agricultural Science, Cambridge92:729–742.

    Google Scholar 

  20. Conchie, J. 1954. β-Glucosidase from rumen liquor: preparation, assay and kinetics of action. Biochemical Journal58:552–560.

    Google Scholar 

  21. Delfosse-Debusscher, J., Van Hoof, F., Hellings, P., Thines-Sempoux, D. 1979. Hydrolytic activities of rumen ciliates. Annales de Recherches Veterinaires10:258–260.

    Google Scholar 

  22. Festenstein, G. N. 1958. Substrates for, rumen β-glucosidase. Biochemical Journal70:49–51.

    Google Scholar 

  23. Forsberg, C. W., Cheng, K.-J. 1980. The constitutive nature of alkaline phosphatase in rumen bacteria. Canadian Journal of Microbiology26:268–272.

    Google Scholar 

  24. Forsberg, C. W., Beveridge, T. J., Hellstrom, A. 1981. Cellulase and xylanase release fromBacteroides succinogenes and its importance in the rumen environment. Applied and Environmental Microbiology42:886–896.

    Google Scholar 

  25. Holdeman, L. V., Cato, E. P., Moore, W. E. C. 1977. Anaerobe laboratory manual. 4th edn. Blacksburg: V. P. I. Anaerobe Laboratory, Virginia Polytechnic Institute.

    Google Scholar 

  26. Howard, B. H. 1959. The biochemistry of rumen protozoa. 2. Some carbohydrases in cell-free extracts ofDasytricha andIsotricha. Biochemical Journal71:675–680.

    Google Scholar 

  27. Howard, B. H. 1963. Hydrolysis of naturally occurring glycosides by some rumen protozoa. Biochemical Journal89:90 P.

  28. Howard, B. H., Jones, G., Purdom, M. R. 1960. The pentosanases of some rumen bacteria. Biochemical Journal74:173–180.

    Google Scholar 

  29. Hungate, R. E., Stack, R. J., Greve, L. C., Labavitch, J. L. 1983. An enzymatic approach to cell wall structure. South African Journal of Animal Science13:51–52.

    Google Scholar 

  30. King, K. W. 1959. Activation and cell surface localization of certain β-glucosidases of the ruminal flora. Journal of Dairy Science42:1848–1856.

    Google Scholar 

  31. Lankhorst, A., Counotte, G. H. M., Koopman, J. P., Prins, R. A. 1979. Rapid characterization of mixed microbial populations in ruminal contents, cecal contents and in feces by a semiquantitative assay of some hydrolytic enzymes (APIZYME). Zeitschrift für Tierphysiologie Tierernaehrung und Futtermittelkunde41:162–171.

    Google Scholar 

  32. Lowry, O. H., Rosebrough, R. J., Farr, A. L., Randall, R. J. 1951. Protein measurement with the Folin-phenol reagent. Journal of Biological Chemistry193:265–275.

    Google Scholar 

  33. Pettipher, G. L., Latham, M. J. 1979. Characteristics of enzymes produced byRuminococcus flavefaciens which degrade plant cell walls. Journal of General Microbiology110:21–27.

    Google Scholar 

  34. Trissl, D. 1983. Glycosidases ofEntamoeba histolytica. Zeitschrift für Parasitenkunde69:291–298.

    Google Scholar 

  35. Walker, D. J. 1967. Some properties of xylanase and xylobiase from mixed rumen organisms. Australian Journal of Biological Science20:799–808.

    Google Scholar 

  36. Williams, A. G. 1979. Exocellular carbohydrase formation by rumen holotrich ciliates. Journal of Protozoology26:665–672.

    Google Scholar 

  37. Williams, A. G., Harfoot, C. G. 1976. Factors affecting the uptake and metabolism of soluble carbohydrates by the rumen ciliateDasytricha ruminantium isolated from ovine rumen contents by filtration. Journal of General Microbiology96:125–136.

    Google Scholar 

  38. Williams, A. G., Strachan, N. H. 1984. The distribution of polysaccharide degrading enzymes in the bovine rumen digesta ecosystem. Current Microbiology10 (in press).

  39. Williams, A. G., Withers, S. E. 1981. Hemicellulose degrading enzymes synthesized by rumen bacteria. Journal of Applied Bacteriology51:375–385.

    Google Scholar 

  40. Williams, A. G., Withers, S. E. 1982. The effect of the carbohydrate growth substrate on the glycosidase activity of hemicellulose-degrading rumen bacterial isolates. Journal of Applied Bacteriology52:389–401.

    Google Scholar 

  41. Williams, A. G., Withers, S. E. 1983.Bacillus spp. in the rumen ecosystem: hemicellulose depolymerases and glycoside hydrolases ofBacillus spp. and rumen isolates grown under anaerobic conditions. Journal of Applied Bacteriology55:283–292.

    Google Scholar 

  42. Williams, A. G., Yarlett, N. 1982. An improved technique for the isolation of holotrich protozoa from rumen contents by differential, filtration with defined aperture textiles. Journal of Applied Bacteriology52:267–270.

    Google Scholar 

  43. Yarlett, N., Hann, A. C., Lloyd, D., Williams, A. G. 1981. Hydrogenosomes in the rumen protozoanDasytricha ruminantium Schuberg. Biochemical Journal200:365–372.

    Google Scholar 

  44. Yarlett, N., Hann, A. C., Lloyd, D., Williams, A. G. 1983. Hydrogenosomes in a mixed isolated ofIsotricha prostoma andIsotricha intestinalis from ovine rumen contents. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology74B:357–364.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Animal Nutrition and Production, Hannah Research Institute, KA6 5HL, Ayr, UK

    Alan G. Williams & Susan E. Withers

  2. Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Animal Physiology, Babraham, CB2 4AT, Cambridge, UK

    Geoffrey S. Coleman

Authors
  1. Alan G. Williams
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Susan E. Withers
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Geoffrey S. Coleman
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Williams, A.G., Withers, S.E. & Coleman, G.S. Glycoside hydrolases of rumen bacteria and protozoa. Current Microbiology 10, 287–293 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01577143

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01577143

Keywords

Search

Navigation