The Metabolism of Cellulose, Glucose and Starch by the Rumen Ciliate Protozoon Eudiplodinium maggii

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Abstract
Washed suspensions of the rumen ciliate protozoon E. maggii incubated anaerobically in the presence of ampicillin utilized cellulose and to a lesser extent starch, but not soluble sugars. The protozoon incorporated 14C from 14C-labeled cellulose, glucose and starch; it synthesized protein from these compounds but only at a rate that would allow the protozoa to divide every 8300, 1200 and 580 h, respectively, if this were the sole protein source. These substrates were metabolized with the production of acetic, propionic and butyric acids. Of the cellulase inside the protozoa 70% was soluble and not of bacterial origin. It had an activity of 11-28 pg cellulose digested h-1 protozoon-1 [0.55 to 3.3 .mu.g cellulose digested h-1 (mg protein)-1].