CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF THE CELL WALL OF AMOEBIDIUM PARASITICUM

Abstract

The cell wall of Amoebidium parasiticum Cienk. has been investigated by staining techniques and a chemical analysis of isolated wall preparations. The wall, prepared by mechanical rupture in a Virtis homogenizer, was hydrolyzed with various acids and the components of the hydrolysate qualitatively determined by chromatography with known standards. Quantitative results suggest that the wall contains 30% galactosamine, 10% galactose, 3% xylose, 30% protein, and 4% ash. The protein estimate is based on the assumption that the nitrogen not bound in galactosamine is protein nitrogen. No evidence for the presence of chitin or cellulose was found.