Abstract
Electron-microscopic observations of an early stage of a logarithmic phase of bacterial cellulose formation show ill-defined and branched fibrillar elements extending from an amorphous substance of cell envelope. This may be interpreted as the initial crystallization of a cellulosic high polymer. In the photographs of cell cross sections, it has been observed that rather slightly staining rod-like materials about 30—40Å in breadth and ca. 1000Å in length are in the cytoplasm of some cells. Composite fibrils become predominant at a middle stage of a logarithmic growth phase. They were in the form of threads having a constant breadth of ca. 500Å with sharply defined boundaries, and consisting of a few microfibrils. The separate fibrils have intertwined to form tangled masses, and built tough membranes which could not be torn easily. Lysozyme treatment of the microfibril has demonstrated that the shape is a flat ribbon with a constant breadth and a thickness of ca. 50—100Å. This treatment has the effect of hydrolytic degradation across the axial direction of the microfibril. In addition, a pronounced swelling of the microfibril occurs anisotropically perpendicular to the axis of the microfibril. A bacterial cellulose membrane negatively stained with sodium phosphotungstate, showed a longitudinal periodicity with a ca. 200Å interval.
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Takai, M., Watanabe, S. Biosynthesis of Cellulose by Acetobacter Xylinum. II. Morphological Observations on the Formation of Cellulose Microfibrils by Acetobacter Xylinum. Polym J 7, 147–156 (1975). https://doi.org/10.1295/polymj.7.147
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1295/polymj.7.147