Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Utilization of cellulose, starch, xylan, and other hemicelluloses for growth by the rumen phycomyceteNeocallimastix frontalis

  • Published:
Current Microbiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The rumen phycomyceteNeocallimastix frontalis was found to utilize for growth a wide range of plant polysaccharides, including cellulose, starch, and xylan. The ability to utilize polysaccharides was absent after prolonged culture in vitro on glucose, but present after subculture on grass particles. Grass-grown organisms were capable of growing at the expense of cellobiose, maltose, and xylose, capacities absent before exposure to grass particles.N. frontalis cultures digested at least 41% of the dry weight of water-insoluble grass tissue, and up to 75% of the dry weight of filter paper.

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. Bucholtz, H. F., Bergen, W. G. 1973. Microbial phospholipid synthesis as a marker for microbial protein synthesis in the rumen. Applied Microbiology25:504–513.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Humgate, R. E. 1966. The rumen and its microbes. New York, London: Academic Press.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Jermyn, M. A. 1955. Cellulose and hemicelluloses, pp. 197–225. In: Paech, K., Tracey, M. V. (eds.), Modern methods of plant analysis, vol. 2. Berlin: Springer-Verlag.

    Google Scholar 

  4. Ohki, M. 1972. Correlation between metabolism of phosphatidylglycerol and membrane synthesis inEscherichia coli. Journal of Molecular Biology68:249–264.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Orpin, C. G. 1975. Studies on the rumen flagellateNeocallimastix frontalis. Journal of General Microbiology91:249–262.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Orpin, C. G. 1977. Invasion of plant tissue in the rumen by the flagellateNeocallimastix frontalis. Journal of General Microbiology98:423–430.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Orpin, C. G. 1977. The rumen flagellatePiromonas communix: Its life-history and invasion of plant material in the rumen. Journal of General Microbiology99:107–117.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Orpin, C. G. 1978. Isolation of phycomycete fungi from the caecum of the horse. Proceedings of the Society for General Microbiology 5:46.

    Google Scholar 

  9. Roché, C., Albertyn, H., van Gylswyk, N. O., Kistner, A. (1973). The growth response of cellulolytic acetate-utilizing and acetate-producing butyrivibrios to volatile acids and other nutrients. Journal of General Microbiology78:253–260.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Rouser, G., Fleischer, S., Yamamoto, A. 1970. Two-dimensional thin-layer chromatographic separation of polar lipids and determination of phospholipids by phosphorus analysis of spots. Lipids5:494–496.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biochemistry, Agricultural Research Council, Institute of Animal Physiology, Babraham, CB2 4AT, Cambridge, England

    Colin G. Orpin & Andrew J. Letcher

Authors
  1. Colin G. Orpin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Andrew J. Letcher
    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

Orpin, C.G., Letcher, A.J. Utilization of cellulose, starch, xylan, and other hemicelluloses for growth by the rumen phycomyceteNeocallimastix frontalis . Current Microbiology 3, 121–124 (1979). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02602444

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02602444

Keywords

Search

Navigation