THE EFFECT OF BACTERIAL CELL LYSIS AND OF PLANT EXTRACTS ON CELLULOSE PRODUCTION BY ACETOBACTER XYLINUM

Abstract

The production of cellulose by lysozyme lysates of Acetobacter xylinum is similar to that of a suspension of whole cells, in contrast to the negative results obtained with previous "cell-free" preparations. The results of differential centrifugation of these lysates suggests that most of the enzymes required for cellulose synthesis from glucose normally are held by the cell envelope and are not located in the cytoplasm. However, a heat-stable cofactor(s) is present in the supernatant derived from the cell contents which may stimulate cellulose synthesis by the cell envelopes.The addition of extracts from a number of plant sources increased cellulose synthesis by whole cells of A. xylinum. In particular, the supernatant prepared by centrifugation of an homogenate of tomatoes increased bacterial cellulose production at pH 6 by a factor of 3. Both dialyzable and non-dialyzable substances in the extract are responsible. Fractionation of the non-dialyzable portion of the extract by column chromatography suggests that the overall increase is due to additive effects of several compounds. Here also the compounds appear to act upon the bacterial cell envelope.