Open AccessSynthesis of Cellulose Precursors
Author(s) -
HOPP H. Esterban,
ROMERO Pedro A.,
DALEO Gustavo R.,
PONT LEZICA Rafael
Publication year - 1978
Publication title -
european journal of biochemistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1432-1033
pISSN - 0014-2956
DOI - 10.1111/j.1432-1033.1978.tb12199.x
Subject(s) - chemistry , periodate , cellulose , disaccharide , hydrolysis , biochemistry , cellulase , sugar , organic chemistry , carbohydrate , polymer , polysaccharide , lipid metabolism , moiety
Particulate preparations from the Chlorophyta Prototheca zopfii catalyze the incorporation of [ 14 C]glucose from UDP‐[ 14 C]glucose into lipids. These lipids have been characterized as lipid‐ P ‐glucose, lipid‐ PP ‐glucose, and lipid‐ PP ‐oligosaccharides. The lipid‐linked oligosaccharides were a mixture ranging from a disaccharide to approximately a decasaccharide. Cellulase digestion and periodate oxidation showed that the oligosaccharides seem to be built of β‐1,4‐linked glucoses. The lipid moiety had the properties of dolichol. The glucolipids described appeared as precursors of a water‐soluble polymer. Treatments of this polymer with hydrolytic enzymes and periodate oxidation indicate that it could be a glycoprotein containing β‐1,4‐linked glucoses. When GDP‐glucose was added to the incubation mixture, the 14 C‐labelled soluble polymer became insoluble in hot alkali. This insoluble polymer had the properties expected for cellulose. A scheme is proposed with the reactions involved in the initiation of cellulose biosynthesis.