Glucuronide Decomposition in the Digestive Tract

Abstract

THE discovery of an enzyme decomposing glucuronide in the rumen of the sheep¹ has been followed by the detection of similar enzymes in the large intestine of the horse² and in locust crop liquor³. It seemed possible that such enzymes are concerned in the digestion of polysaccharides containing β-linked glucuronic acid residues, such as hemicellulose and hyaluronic acid, and a survey was therefore made of their occurrence in different parts of the alimentary tract in various species of animal. Typical results are shown in the accompanying table. It should be pointed out that these results are only of qualitative value, since the enzyme assays were carried out under conditions which are optimal for the sheep rumen enzyme¹, but are not necessarily so for the enzymes from other sources. Moreover, in the rumen, omasum, cæcum and colon, the enzymes may well be of microbial origin, as has been shown for the sheep rumen enzyme¹, and therefore surrounded by membranes of varying toughness and permeability. A further factor which was not controlled was the diet of the animals, some of the material being obtained from the slaughter-house.