AUTOLYSIS IN THE ANAEROBIC FUNGUS Piromyces communis OTS1 : PRESENCE OF CHITINASE AND β-1, 3-GLUCANASE ACTIVITIES

The degree of autolysis and presence of cell-wall degrading enzymes in an anaerobic ruminal fungus, Piromyces communis OTSI, grown in liquid medium, was monitored to evaluate the effect of self-digestion on fungal biomass. After a 30 days incubation period fungal dry weight decreased by 45% and the cell wall component chitin decreased by 22%. Chitinase activity detected in the supernatant was mainly of the endotype and peaked at day 6 of the incubation. ${\beta}-1$, 3-glucanase was detected from day 4 and increased throughout the incubation period. Autolysis was a slow process, and under natural conditions it is unlikely that it plays a significant role in the degradation of the spent fungal vegetative stage in the rumen.