Comparison of the mechanism of cellulose biosynthesis in plants and bacteria. [Acetobacter xylinum]

Conference · Sat Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1983 · J. Appl. Polym. Sci.: Appl. Polym. Symp.; (United States)

OSTI ID:6851619

Delmer, D P ^[1]; Benziman, M; Klein, A S; Bacic, A; Mitchell, B; Weinhouse, H; Aloni, Y; Callaghan, T

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1. Michigan State Univ., East Lansing

Results of recent studies on the mechanism of cellulose biosynthesis in higher plants and in the bacterium Acetobacter xylinum are compared and contrasted. In higher plants, the synthesizing complex is thought to be mobile in the fluid-mosaic plasma membrane, whereas it is stationary in cells of A. xylinum. Similar patterns of sensitivity to inhibitors of cellulose synthesis as well as to changes in transmembrane electrical potential are shared by both plants and A. xylinum. In vivo tracer studies with both types of organisms support the concept the UDP-glucose is a precursor of cellulose. A characterization of additional compounds which may serve as precursors in A. xylinum beyond the level of UDP-glucose is described. UDP-glucose:..beta..-glucan synthetases have been solubilized from plants and A. xylinum. Attempts at purification of solubilized soybean glucan synthetases indicate that a factor(s) is lost during purification which is necessary for activity; studies described elsewhere indicate that the A. xylinum ..beta..-1,4-glucan synthetase requires a protein factor for GTP activation. The stimulatory effect of polyethylene glycol (PEG) on glucan synthetases from both plants and A. xylinum may relate to stabilization by PEG of enzyme-factor associations. 34 references, 3 figures, 3 tables.

• DOE Contract Number: AC02-76ER01338
• OSTI ID: 6851619
• Report Number(s): CONF-8205234-Vol.1
• Conference Information: Journal Name: J. Appl. Polym. Sci.: Appl. Polym. Symp.; (United States)
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
BACTERIA
BIOCHEMICAL REACTION KINETICS
BIOCHEMISTRY
BIOSYNTHESIS
CARBOHYDRATES
CELLULOSE
CHEMISTRY
CHROMATOGRAPHY
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
ELECTRIC POTENTIAL
ELECTROPHORESIS
ENZYMES
GLYCOSIDES
IN VIVO
KINETICS
MICROORGANISMS
NUCLEOTIDES
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC PHOSPHORUS COMPOUNDS
PLANTS
POLYSACCHARIDES
REACTION KINETICS
SACCHARIDES
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SYNTHESIS
UDPG