CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF THE CELL WALLS OF CAROTENOGENESIS AND NON-CAROTENOGENESIS FORMS OF (-) STRAIN OF BLAKESLEA TRISPORA

Abstract

Electron microscopy revealed that the cell walls of carotenogenesis form of (-) strain of Blakeslea trispora are strikingly thick compared with those of white form. The chemical composition of the purified cell walls of the two forms is described. The cell walls consist mainly of a xylose polysaccharide, a glucosamine polysaccharide which is probably chitin, some protein, lipid materials, and a trace of nucleic acid. In addition, smaller quantities of glucose, galactose, and mannose have been detected. In spite of the small quantities of lipid materials, the cell walls of the yellow form contain high amounts of carbohydrate and glucosamine polysaccharides. It is concluded that the difference in environmental conditions can bring changes in the molecular architecture of microbial cell walls and hence stimulate the production of morphologically and biochemically different forms of the microorganism.