Relationship between cellulolytic activity and adhesion to cellulose in Ruminococcus albus

• Published in: Journal of general microbiology Vol. 133; no. 4; pp. 1023 - 1032
• Main Authors: Morris, E.J, Cole, O.J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Soc General Microbiol 01.04.1987; New York, NY Cambridge University Press
• Subjects: adhesion; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Biological and medical sciences; cellulolytic microorganisms; cellulose; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Microbial ecology; Normal microflora of man and animals. Rumen; rumen bacteria; Ruminococcus albus; Eubacteriales; Correlation; Endo-1,3-β-D-xylanase; Enzyme; Cellulose; Cellulolysis; Microflora; Rumen; Peptococcaceae; Adhesion; Cellulase; Ruminococcus; Bacteria
• ISSN: 0022-1287; 1350-0872; 1465-2080
• DOI: 10.1099/00221287-133-4-1023

Anaerobic Microbiology Division, Laboratory for Molecular and Cell Biology, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, Private Bag X3, Onderstepoort 0110, South Africa ABSTRACT SUMMARY: Bacterial adhesion to cellulose was measured for 13 cellulolytic and 10 non-cellulolytic, xylan-utilizing strains of the ruminal bacterium Ruminococcus albus . Radiolabelled bacteria adhering to Whatman CF11 cellulose powder were determined. Adhesion of the cellulolytic strains ranged from 0 to 49% of the added bacteria. Of the non-cellulolytic strains, 9 showed < 1% adhesion, while one strain gave 5% adhesion. For the cellulolytic strains filter paper solubilization ranged from 24 to 100%, while solubilization of CF11 cellulose varied from 0 to 20%. Both cellulolytic and non-cellulolytic strains produced carboxymethylcellulase (CMCase) activity. SDS-PAGE of cell extracts followed by incubation with a gel overlay containing CMC or xylan produced a zymogram of hydrolytic enzyme activity. The cellulolytic strains showed a number of bands of CMCase and xylanase activity. Non-cellulolytic strains possessed fewer bands of activity towards both CMC and xylan. Certain of the enzymes appeared to possess both CMCase and xylanase activity. Bacterial cell surface hydrophobicity was also measured, but no correlation was found between hydrophobicity and adhesion to cellulose.