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Appl Environ Microbiol. 1983 January; 45(1): 212-217
Copyright © 1983, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Breakdown of Diazotized Proteins and Synthetic Substrates by Rumen Bacterial Proteases

R. John Wallace and Jan Kopecny

Rowett Research Institute, Bucksburn, Aberdeen, AB2 9SB, United Kingdom

ABSTRACT

Several different kinds of substrate were used to investigate the proteolytic activity of rumen bacteria and of proteases released from rumen bacteria by blending ("coat proteases"). These substrates included diazotized feed proteins and diazotized soluble and insoluble pure proteins. It was concluded that, while solubility was an important factor, the secondary and tertiary structure of a protein had a major influence on its rate of digestion. The resistance of elastin congo red to digestion indicated that similar fibrous proteins in plant material might resist proteolytic attack by rumen bacteria. Coat proteases had a broad specificity, including several exo- and endopeptidase activities, as determined by using synthetic peptide substrates.

Present address: Institute of Animal Physiology and Genetics, Uhrineves, Prague, Czechoslovakia CS251-61.