Seisoenvariasie in die aminosuursamestelling van rumenprotosoë

Loading...
Thumbnail Image
Date
1978-02
Authors
Cilliers, Johannes Jacobus le Roux
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of the Free State
Abstract
English: The rumen content of sheep was fractionated and analyzed. Samples were obtained over a year, at three week intervals, from a group of six Merino sheep on natural veld. The rumen contents of another group receiving specified crude protein feed and kept indoors under controlled conditions, were also analyzed. Rumen samples were fractionated into protozoal-, bacterial-, fibrous- and soluble fractions by a procedure of centrifugation. Sampling and conditions under which the sheep were kept as well as fractionating procedures are described and discussed. The rumen samples as well as the different fractions were analyzed by various means to determine the effects of seasonal variation. Dry mass, nitrogen (micro-Kjeldahl technique) and amino acid composition of these fractions were determined. In some cases the total carbohydrate- and tryptophane contents were determined. Observation of the different fractions by microscope was used for comparative purposes. For analytical determinations, including hydrolysis procedures, all sampLes were well mixed, homogenized where necessary, freeze-dried and pulverised to facilitate representative sampling. The amount of sample needed for amino acid determination was calculated from the nitrogen content. Samples were hydrolized for 22 hours at 110 °C in constant boiling HCl under vacuum. Hydrochloric acid was removed by evaporation and freeze-drying after hydrolysis and the amino acids transferred quantitavely into buffer for analysis. Amino acid analysis were conducted on a Beckman Model 120 C amino acid analyzer according to a standardized procedure. The analysis were controlled for accuracy and values compensated for losses of certain amino acids caused by acid hydrolysis. According to results, the nitrogen as well as the total amino acid content varied with seasonal variations with minimum values at the end of the winter. Each amino acid, viewed as a percentage of the total amino acids in the fraction, remained constant within certain limits over the full duration of the experiment. Certain essential amino acids, i.e. Lys, lIe and Arg occured at comparatively higher concentration levels in the protozoal fraction, whereas Thr, Ala, Tyr and Met were present at higher levels in the bacterial fraction as compared to the rumen sample. Pro and His seem to be degraded to a marked extent in the rumen, whereas Asp and Glu occured at relatively high concentration levels in all fractions, including the feed. The quality and composition of fodder have a marked effect upon the microflora of the rumen. The sheep on crude protein feed displayed much higher levels of protozoa (dry mass) than bacteria. The opposite pattern was observed with sheep on the veld. Protozoa from sheep on crude protein feed also had higher concentration levels of Lys, Tyr, Arg, Asp and Glu but lower ,levels of Ala and Gly. Bacterial fractions from both groups showed very little difference in amino acid composition. These results seem to indicate a definite role for protozoa in the rumen especially when the animal is fed a high quality fodder. In addition to preferentially supplying certain essential amino acids (protozoa used as feed) these organisms also seem to aid in the break-down of complex macromolecules present in the feed. In this respect a glycoside hydrolase, obtained from the protozoal fraction of grazing sheep, was partially purified and studied. The enzyme was purified by ethanol fractionation as well as chromatographic procedures. The optimum pH as well as the activity towards various carbohydrates was also determined. The occurence of specific hydrolases in the different micro-organisms is also affected by the feed supplied to the animal. It seems essential that further studies specifically concerning the metabolic role of protozoa in the rumen should be done.
Afrikaans: Die rumenstof van skape is gefraksioneer en analities ondersoek. Monsters is drieweekliks vir 'n periode van een jaar van 'n groep van ses Merinoskape, op veldweiding aangehou, getrek. Eenmalige monsters is ook vanaf skape op ruproteienrantsoene onder gekontroleerde toestande binneshuis aangehou, verkry. Die rumenstof is gefraksioneer in 'n protosoon-, bakteriese-, perskoek- (vesel) en 'n oplosbare fraksie. Fraksioneringsprosedure het op sentrifugale tegnieke berus en 'n herhaalbare prosedure is ontwikkel. Toestande waaronder die skape aangehou is, monsterneming en fraksioneringsprosedures is volledig beskryf en bespreek. Ten einde die effek van seisoensvariasie op die samestelling van die rumeninhoud van die skape vas te stel, is heelmonster sowel as verkrygde fraksies analities ondersoek. Benewens droë massastikstofbepalings (mikro-Kjeldahlmetode), is ook aminosuurontledings op al die fraksies uitgevoer. In sekere gevalle is ook totale koolhidraat- en triptofaanbepalings gedoen. Die verkrygde fraksies is ook vir vergelykende doeleindes mikroskopies ondersoek. Om verteenwoordigende monsters vir veral hidroliseprosedures, maar ook ander analitiese bepalings te verkry, is alle monsters goed gemeng of gehomogeniseer (waar nodig), gevriesdroog en daarna fyngemaal. Volgens die stikstofinhoud is die hoeveelheid monster benodig vir aminosuurontledings bereken. Vir laasgenoemde ontledings is monsters vir 22 uur onder vakuum gehidroliseer met konstant kokende HCI by 110 °C. Na hidrolise is die soutsuur deur in damping en vriesdroging verwyder en die aminosure kwantitatief in buffer opgeneem. Aminosuurontledings is met 'n Beckman model 120 C aminosuurontleder uitgevoer en dié metode is gestandaardiseer en gekontroleer vir akkuraatheid. Daar is voorsiening gemaak vir die verliese van sekere aminosure tydens suurhidrolise. Volgens resultate varieer die stikstofinhoud sowel as die totale aminosuurinhoud van die rumenfraksies met verloop van seisoene om 'n laagtepunt aan die einde van die winter te gee. Die persentasiesamestelling van die aminosure in die onderskeie fraksies bly egter oor die volle proeftydperk konstant. Sekere essensiële aminosure, byvoorbeeld Lys, lIe en Arg word verhoudingsgewys in groter hoeveelhede in die protosoonfraksie aangetref, terwyl die bakteriese fraksie weer meer Thr, Ala, Tyr en Met as die rantsoen bevat. Pro en His word tot 'n groot mate in die rumen afgebreek, terwyl die suur aminosure deurgaans in alle fraksies, selfs die rantsoen, in relatief groot hoeveelhede voorkom. Rantsoensamestelling en kwaliteit het 'n groot invloed op die relatiewe grootte van mikrobiese populasies in die rumen. Skape op 'n ruproteienrantsoen bevat baie meer protosoë (massagewys) as bakterieë, terwyl "veldskape" die teenoorgestelde toon. Die protosoë van ruproteienrantsoen skape bevat dan ook opmerklik hoër konsentrasievlakke van die aminosure Lys, Tyr, Arg, Asp en Glu maar laer vlakke van Gly en Ala. Die bakteriese fraksies tussen die twee groepe skape toon egter baie min verskille. Volgens die resultate vervul protosoë 'n belangrike rol in die rumen van skape en veral wanneer beter kwaliteit rantsoene aan die dier voorsien word. Benewens die voorsiening van sekere essensiële aminosure (protosoë as bron van voeding) vervul dié organismes skynbaar ook 'n belangrike rol in die afbreking van komplekse polimeriese voedselbestanddele. In die verband is 'n glikosiedhidrolase spesifiek vanuit die protosoonfraksie van skape op veldweiding verkry, gedeeltelik gesuiwer en ondersoek. Die ensiem is deur middel van etanolfraksionering en chromatografiese tegnieke gesuiwer en eienskappe soos die optimum pH asook aktiwiteit teenoor verskillende substrate is bepaal. Die voorkoms van spesifieke hidrolitiese ensieme in die mikroorganisme fraksies word ook grootliks deur rantsoensamestelling beinvloed. Dit is dus noodsaaklik om die spesifieke metaboliese rol van die protosoë in die rumen verder te ondersoek.
Description
Keywords
Dissertation (M.Sc. (Biochemistry))--University of the Free State, 1978, Rumen, Amino acid in animal nutrition, Proteins in animal nutrition
Citation