Succinlc Acid Production Y Rumen Bacteria I. Isolation and Metabolism of Ruminococcus Flavefaciens

Abstract

A strain of R. flavefaciens was isolated from the sheep rumen. Succinic acid was a major end· product of glucose fermentation by this organism when C02 was freely available, but in the absence of C02, the fermentation was nearly homolactic. The products of pyruvate fermentation were consistent with the proposition that pyruvate is an intermediate in the fermentation of glucose. Possible routes of the fermentation are discussed in the light of these findings.