Degradation of nucleic acids by cell-free extract of mixed rumen protozoa of buffalo rumen

Sinha, P. R.; Dutta, S. M.

doi:1988.1.4.219

Article

Ruminant Nutrition and Forage Utilization

Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences 1988;1(4): 219-222.
https://doi.org/10.5713/ajas.1988.219 Published online December 1, 1988.

Degradation of nucleic acids by cell-free extract of mixed rumen protozoa of buffalo rumen

P. R. Sinha, S. M. Dutta

Abstract

Degradation of deoxyribonucleic acid(DNA) and ribonucleic acid(RNA) by cell-free extract of mixed rumen protozoa of buffalo rumen was investigated. DNA was observed to be degraded rapidly during an initial incubation period of 2 hr with simultaneous appearance of degradation products. RNA on the other hand recorded a rapid degradation during an initial incubation period of 1 hr. RNA degradation products appeared upto an incubation period of 2 hr. DNA was observed to degrade into oligo- and mononucleotides, pyrimidine nucleosides, purine nucleoside adenosine and bases xanthine, hypoxanthine and thymine. Degradation products of RNA comprised of pyrimidine nucleosides, purine nucleoside, adenosine and bases xanthine, hypoxanthine and uracil besides oligo- and mononucleotides.

Keywords: DNA; RNA; Protozoa; Rumen Degradation; Buffalo