Deoxyribonuclease activity in Selenomonas ruminantium, Streptococcus bovis, and Bacteroides ovatus

Six Selenomonas ruminantium strains (132c, JW13, SRK1, 179f, 5521c1, and 59 34e), Streptococcus bovis JB1, and Bacteroides ovatus V975 were examined fo r nuclease activity as well as the ability to utilize nucleic acids, ribose , and 2-deoxyribose. Nuclease activity was detected in sonicated cells and culture supernatants for all bacteria except S. ruminantium JW13 and 179f s onicated cells. S. ruminantium strains were able to utilize several deoxyri bonucleosides, while S. bovis JB 1 and B. ovatus V975 showed little or no g rowth on all deoxyribonucleosides. When S. ruminantium strains 5934e, 132c, JW13, and SRK1 were incubated in medium that contained 15 mM ribose, the m ajor end products were acetate, propionate, and lactate. S. ruminantium 552 1c1 and S, bovis JB1 did not grow on ribose, and none of the S. ruminantium strains or S. bovis JB1 grew on 15 mM 2-deoxyribose. In contrast, B. ovatu s V975 was able to grow on ribose and 2-deoxyribose. In conclusion, all S. ruminantium strains, S. bovis JB1, and B. ovatus V975 had nuclease activity . However, not all bacteria were able to utilize deoxyribonucleosides, ribo se, or 2-deoxyribose.