Substrate Preferences in Rumen Bacteria: Evidence of Catabolite Regulatory Mechanisms

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Abstract
Five spp. of rumen bacteria [Megasphaera elsdenii, Butyrivibzio fibrosolvens, Selenomonas ruminatium, Bacteroides ruminicola and Streptococcus bovis] with overlapping substrate fermentative capabilities were tested for substrate preferences and evidence of catabolite regulatory mechanisms. All 5 bacteria showed evidence of some type of catabolite regulatory mechanism. In the 6 substrate [glucose, xylose, maltose, sucrose, cellobiose and lactate] test system that was used, utilization of every substrate was inhibited by another substrate in at least 1 of the bacteria. Inhibited vs. noninhibited substrate data suggest that the 5 bacteria have different strategies of substrate utilization and thus occupy separate niches in the rumen. The significance of these observations to understanding the rumen ecosystem is discussed.

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