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Electron Microscopic Studies of Endotoxins Treated with Alkaline and Acid Reagents
Author(s) -
Amano KenIchi,
Fukushi Kazue
Publication year - 1984
Publication title -
microbiology and immunology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.664
H-Index - 70
eISSN - 1348-0421
pISSN - 0385-5600
DOI - 10.1111/j.1348-0421.1984.tb00667.x
Subject(s) - hydroxylamine , reagent , monolayer , electron micrographs , sodium hydroxide , strain (injury) , hydroxide , biology , salmonella , biochemistry , nuclear chemistry , chemistry , microbiology and biotechnology , chromatography , electron microscope , bacteria , organic chemistry , anatomy , physics , genetics , optics
Endotoxins extracted from Salmonella minnesota wild strain and R mutants (Ra to Re) were treated with two different alkaline reagents. Treatment with diluted sodium hydroxide, which caused partial removal of O‐ester linked fatty acids, changed the ultrastructures of endotoxins from an onion‐like structure to monolayer particles (approximately 100 Å in diameter) except for endotoxic glycolipids from Rd2 and Re mutants which showed mixed ultrastructures of untreated and treated endotoxins. Treatment with alkaline hydroxylamine, which caused liberation of all O‐ester linked fatty acids, changed the ultrastructures of all endotoxins to monolayer particles. The results suggested that the ultrastructures of alkaline‐treated endotoxins were dependent on the degree of their hydrophobicity. On the other hand, the micrographs of acid treated endotoxins did not show a constant structure because of the high hydrophobicity.