LOCATION BY FLUORESCENCE MICROSCOPY OF GLYCOSIDASES AND A XYLANASE INTHE ANAEROBIC GUT FUNGI CAECOMYCES-COMMUNIS, NEOCALLIMASTIX-FRONTALIS, AND PIROMYCES-RHIZINFLATA

beta-D-Glucosidase, beta-D-fucosidase, beta-D-xylosidase, and beta-D-c ellobiopyranosidase activities in Caecomyces communis, Neocallimastix frontalis, and Piromyces rhizinflata, located with fluorescent conjuga tes, occur throughout the whole thallus as from zoospore germination a nd disappear before sporulation. beta-D-Galactosidase and alpha-L-arab inopyranosidase activities are low or nonexistent. A xylanase, detecte d by indirect immunofluorescence, was observed at the surface of the v egetative cells, vesicles, or rhizoids. Cross-reactions prove the exis tence of analogies in structure among the enzymes of these anaerobic g ut fungi.