Formation of Lysine from α, ε-Diaminopimelic Acid Contained in Rumen Bacterial Cell Walls by Rumen Ciliate Protozoa

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Cell walls containing α,e-diaminopimelate-l,7-14C (DAP) was prepared from Escherichia coli isolated from the rumen. After incubation of ciliates with the cell walls, 22.0% of DAP contained in cell walls of E. coli was converted to lysine and pipecolate. Heat-treated mixed rumen bacteria and heat-treated cell walls of mixed rumen bacteria added to the culture medium of rumen ciliates increased 0.572 and 0.934 μmole/ml of sum of lysine and pipecolate, respectively.From these results, it is clear that rumen ciliate protozoa can form lysine from DAP contained in the mucopeptide of bacterial cell walls. One of the nutritional significance of inhabitation of ciliates in the rumen was revealed.