HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Nagaraja, T. G. Articles by Sapienza, D. A. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Nagaraja, T. G. Articles by Sapienza, D. A.

Chemical Characteristics of Rumen Bacterial Endotoxin¹

Kansas State University, Manhattan 66506

Abstract

Endotoxins were extracted by phenol-water or aqueous ether extraction procedures from rumen bacteria of cattle fed hay or grain. Chemical composition of rumen bacterial endotoxins apparently is similar to that of enterobacterial endotoxins, particularly in relation to predominance of carbohydrate and lipid. Chief components present in the endotoxins studied were neutral sugars, hexosamine, methyl pentoses, and fatty acid esters. Keto-deoxyoctonate content was low, nucleic acids absent and alanine, aspartic and glutamic acids were the predominant amino acids present. Major fatty acids detected were myristic, palmitic, oleic, and linolenic. ß-hydroxymyristic acid, considered to be unique and a predominant fatty acid in enterobacterial endotoxin, however, was absent in rumen bacterial endotoxin. The differences in chemical composition between rumen bacterial and enterobacterial endotoxins may explain differences in the endotoxicity of the two endotoxins.

¹ Contribution number 79-8-j, Department of Animal Sciences and Industry, Division of Biology (Microbiology group), and Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, Kansas Agricultural Experimental Station, Manhattan 66506.

² The authors gratefully acknowledge the assistance of Molly May, Terry Hauser and Ramilla Lewis.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				T. G. Nagaraja and E. C. Titgemeyer Ruminal Acidosis in Beef Cattle: The Current Microbiological and Nutritional Outlook J Dairy Sci, June 1, 2007; 90(13_suppl): E17 - E38. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]