Substrate preferences in rumen bacteria: evidence of catabolite regulatory mechanisms

Five species of rumen bacteria with overlapping substrate fermentative capabilities were tested for substrate preferences and evidence of catabolite regulatory mechanisms. All five bacteria showed evidence of some type of catabolite regulatory mechanism. In the six-substrate test system that was used, utilization of every substrate was inhibited by another substrate in at least one of the bacteria. Inhibited versus noninhibited substrate data suggest that the five bacteria have different strategies of substrate utilization and thus occupy separate niches in the rumen. The significance of these observations to understanding the rumen ecosystem is discussed.