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Molecular Size and Chain Length Distribution in Acanthamoeba Cellulose *
Author(s) -
BLANTON W. E.,
VILLEMEZ C. L.
Publication year - 1978
Publication title -
the journal of protozoology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.067
H-Index - 77
eISSN - 1550-7408
pISSN - 0022-3921
DOI - 10.1111/j.1550-7408.1978.tb04412.x
Subject(s) - cellulose , fractionation , chemistry , polysaccharide , periodate , hydrolysis , molar mass distribution , chromatography , glucan , extraction (chemistry) , organic chemistry , polymer
SYNOPSIS Evidence obtained by total hydrolysis, partial acetolysis, periodate oxidation, as well as treatment with amylase, emulsin, and Trichoderma viride β‐(1→4)‐glucanase, verified that the alkali insoluble component of Acanthamoeba castellanii was pure β‐(1→4)‐glucan. The weight average chain length of the cellulose varied from DP = 3170 to DP = 4130 (mean DP = 3480) with polysaccharide obtained from seven seemingly identical cultures. Isolation of the cyst‐wall cellulose by nondegrading means indicated that alkali extraction was not depolymerizing the polysaccharide. Fractionation of cellulose obtained from a single culture produced fractions from DP = 550 to DP = 4550 (mean DP = 3280; 98.7% of the original cellulose), indicating that the cellulose is polydisperse.