The Anaerobic Fungus Neocallimastix sp. Strain L2: Growthand Production of (Hemi)Cellulolytic Enzymes on a Range of CarbohydrateSubstrates

The anaerobic fungus Neocallimastix sp. strain L2,isolated from the feces of a llama, was tested for growth on a range ofsoluble and insoluble carbohydrate substrates. The fungus was able to fermentglucose, cellobiose, fructose, lactose, maltose, sucrose, soluble starch,inulin, filter paper cellulose, and Avicel. No growth was observed onarabinose, galactose, mannose, ribose, xylose, sorbitol, pectin, xylan,glycerol, citrate, soya, and wheat bran. The fermentation products aftergrowth were hydrogen, formate, acetate, ethanol, and lactate. Thefermentation pattern was dependent on the carbon source. In general, higherhydrogen production resulted in decreased formation of lactate and ethanol.Recovery of the fermented carbon in products at the end of growth ranged from50% to 80%. (Hemi)cellulolytic enzyme activities were affectedby the carbon source. Highest activities were found in filtrates fromcultures grown on cellulose. Growing the fungus on inulin and lactose yieldedthe lowest cellulolytic activities. Highest specific activities foravicelase, endoglucanase, beta-glucosidase, and xylanase were obtained withAvicel as the substrate for growth (0.29, 5.9, 0.57, and 13IU · mg-1 protein, respectively). Endoglucanase activitybanding patterns after SDS-PAGE were very similar for all substrates. Minordifferences indicated that enzyme activities may in part be the result ofsecretion of different sets of isoenzymes.

The anaerobic fungus Piromyces sp. strain E2: nitrogen requirement and enzymes involved in primary nitrogen metabolism.

The anaerobic fungus Piromyces sp. strain E2 appeared restricted in nitrogen utilization. Growth was only supported by ammonium as source of nitrogen. Glutamine also resulted in growth, but this was due to release of ammonia rather than to uptake and utilization of the amino acid. The fungus was not able to grow on other amino acids, albumin, urea, allantoin, or nitrate. Assimilation of ammonium is very likely to be mediated by NADP-linked glutamate dehydrogenase (NADP-GDH) and glutamine synthetase (GS). One transaminating activity, glutamate-oxaloacetate transaminase (GOT), was demonstrated. Glutamate synthase (GOGAT), NAD-dependent glutamate dehydrogenase (NAD-GDH), and the transaminating activity glutamate-pyruvate transaminase (GPT) were not detected in cell-free extracts of Piromyces sp. strain E2. Specific enzyme activities of both NADP-GDH and GS increased four- to sixfold under nitrogen-limiting conditions.