Cellulose fermentation by a rumen anaerobic fungus in both the absence and the presence of rumen methanogens
The fermentation of cellulose by an ovine rumen anaerobic fungus in the absence and presence of rumen methanogens is described. In the monoculture, moles of product as a percentage of the moles of hexose fermented were: acetate, 72.7; carbon dioxide, 37.6; formate, 83.1; ethanol, 37.4; lactate, 67.0; and hydrogen 35.3. In the coculture, acetate was the major product (134.7%), and carbon dioxide increased (88.7%). Lactate and ethanol production decreased to 2.9 and 19% respectively, little formate was detected (1%), and hydrogen did not accumulate. Substantial amounts of methane were produced in the coculture (58.7%). Studies with (2-14C) acetate indicated that acetate was not a precursor of methane. The demonstration of cellulose fermentation by a fungus extends the range of known rumen organisms capable of participating in cellulose digestion and provides further support for a role of anaerobic fungi in rumen fiber digestion. The effect of the methanogens on the pattern of fermentation is interpreted as a shift in flow of electrons away from electron sink products to methane via hydrogen. The study provides a new example of intermicrobial hydrogen transfer and the first demonstration of hydrogen formation by a fungus. (Refs. 27).
- Research Organization:
- Applied Biochemistry Div., Dept. of Scientific and Industrial Research, Palmerston North, New Zealand
- OSTI ID:
- 6813631
- Journal Information:
- Appl. Environ. Microbiol.; (United States), Vol. 42:6
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Rumen metagenome and metatranscriptome analyses of low methane yield sheep reveals a Sharpea-enriched microbiome characterised by lactic acid formation and utilisation
High-rate two-phase process for the anaerobic degradation of cellulose, employing rumen microorganisms for an efficient acidogenesis
Related Subjects
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
CELLULOSE
ANAEROBIC DIGESTION
FUNGI
CELLULOLYTIC ACTIVITY
METHANOGENIC BACTERIA
ACETATES
CARBON DIOXIDE
CELL CULTURES
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
ETHANOL
FERMENTATION
FORMATES
HYDROGEN PRODUCTION
HYDROGEN TRANSFER
METHANE
RUMINANTS
STOMACH
ALCOHOLS
ALKANES
ANIMALS
BACTERIA
BIOCONVERSION
BODY
CARBOHYDRATES
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBON OXIDES
CARBOXYLIC ACID SALTS
CHALCOGENIDES
DIGESTION
DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
ENZYME ACTIVITY
GASTROINTESTINAL TRACT
HYDROCARBONS
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
MAMMALS
MANAGEMENT
MICROORGANISMS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PLANTS
POLYSACCHARIDES
PROCESSING
SACCHARIDES
VERTEBRATES
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTE PROCESSING
140504* - Solar Energy Conversion- Biomass Production & Conversion- (-1989)
550700 - Microbiology