Possible participation of transient sheets of 1. -->. 4-. beta. -glucans in the biosynthesis of cellulose I. [Acetobacter xylinum]

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

OSTI ID:6980382

Colvin, J R

It is suggested that a primary, essential stage in the biologic formation of a microfibril of cellulose I is an extracellular, lateral association of presynthesized (1..-->..4)-..beta..-D-glucans, by hydrogen bonding, to form long, thin sheets. These sheets then superimpose themselves nonenzymatically by London forces to form the nascent microfibril. The ends of the constituent glucans of the nascent microfibril may undergo extension or rearrangement of the type indicated by Maclachlan and colleagues. The formation of the metastable, native structure (cellulose I) may be deduced from the above suggestion as a natural consequence of closest packing of the sheets. The irreversibility of the change from cellulose I to cellulose II, either by mercerization or regeneration, also follows from the postulate. The suggestion also explains why cellulose microfibrils and chitin microfibrils may be formed contiguously in cell walls without interfering with each other. High-resolution electron micrographs of the tips of newly formed microfibrils of bacterial cellulose which had been very lightly negatively stained with sodium phosphotungstate are consistent with the suggestion. 33 references, 3 figures.

• Research Organization: National Research Council of Canada, Ottawa
• OSTI ID: 6980382
• 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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