Protozoa, cellulase

Cellulose Cellulose is a straight-chain polymer of glucose units linked by (31-4 bonds. The polysaccharide chains are aligned to form fibrils that have great tensile strength. Cellulases, enzymes that degrade cellulose, are absent in mammals but are produced by some bacteria, fungi and protozoa. 

Linder M., Winiecka-Krusnell J., and Linder E. 2002. Use of recombinant cellulose-binding domains of Trichoderma reesei cellulase as a selective immunocytochemical marker for cellulose in protozoa. Appl Environ Microbiol. 

Yucca schidigera and Quillaja saponaria containing 4.4% and 10% saponins (Wang et al. 1998) decreased polysaccharide degrading enzymes (carboxymethyl-cellulase and xylanase) considerably and inhibited protozoa to the extent of 42% and 54% respectively (Hristov et al. 1999, 2003). Wang et al. (1998) studied the effect of yucca extract (0.5 mg/ml buffer) on rumen fermentation in RUSITEC and reported no effect on dry matter digestibility, gas production and volatile fatty acid production, but the protozoa numbers were significantly reduced, while the number of bacteria was not affected. 

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