Further Studies on Polysaccharide Production by Bovine Rumen Bacteria

Abstract
Iodine staining substance (ISS) produced by washed suspensions of rumen bacteria was extracted and found to be a polymer of glucose. Identical polysaccharides were produced when either a pentose or hexose was used as substrate. The influence of urea, Burroughs'' salt mixture, a chelating agent, and Co upon the synthesis of ISS was studied by using a colorimetric method for determining ISS. Possible significance of this reaction and suggestions for further work are discussed.