INVITRO STUDY OF THE PROTEOLYTIC ACTIVITY OF RUMEN ANAEROBIC FUNGI

Proteolytic, aminopeptidase, endopeptidase and carboxypeptidase activi ties of seven strains of rumen anaerobic fungi, selected to represent the fungal population commonly found in the rumen, were investigated i n vitro. Whatever the nitrogen source included in the culture medium, a proteolytic activity against the C-14-labelled casein was detected i n only one fungal strain. This strain belonged to the genus Piromyces. The activity was extracellular and was found both in the culture supe rnatant and bound to the mycelium. No carboxypeptidase activity was de tected in the seven strains. In contrast, all the strains exhibited am inopeptidase activity. Two strains had an endopeptidase activity.