Glycoside and Polysaccharide Hydrolase Activity of the Rumen Anaerobic Fungus Caecomyces communis (Sphaeromonas communis SENSU ORPIN) at Early and Final Stages of the Developmental Cycle

The rumen anaerobic fungus Caecomyces communis was grown in a fermentor in Lowe medium. We studied four polysaccharide hydrolases and three glycoside hydrolases at early and final stages. We found a difference in cell association for these enzymes depending on the developmental stage. The endocellulase and β-D-fucosidase were early synthesized, and their activities decreased at the end of the developmental cycle. On the contrary, the β-D-glucosidase, β-D-xylosidase and xylanase activities increased during the cycle. The avicelase and the CM-cellulase activities linked with thalli increased, whereas the extracellular activities of these enzymes decreased.