The analysis of an enzyme (Ce1A) and a gene system (abg) involved in the utilization of lignocellulose in the rumen

As lignocellulose represents an abundant renewable resource, research is in progress to obtain a better understanding of the natural mechanisms whereby this resource is utilised. Of particular interest is the degradation of forage in the rumen and one research goal is to ultimately increase animal productivity through an improvement in lignocellulose utilisation. However, although the mechanisms behind lignocellulose utilisation are reasonably well understood, relatively little is known about the mechanisms which occur in the rumen. Thus, the aim of this thesis was to gain more insight into the mechanisms of lignocellulose utilisation which occur in the rumen. Initially this research was focused on the poorly characterised exo-acting cellulases from rumen bacteria. Preliminary enzymology studies on one cellulase from Ruminococcus flavefaciens FD-1, previously isolated in this laboratory, indicated that an exo-acting cellodextrinase, CelA, had been isolated. In this report, the enzyme was purified and biochemically characterised and was shown to be an exo-acting cellodextrinase.

Grantor dc:publisher.institution

Department of Molecular and Cell Biology

Year dc:date.issued

1996

Author dc:creator

• Brown, Gordon Douglas

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Thomson, Jennifer Ann

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/11427/9244

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/9244