ON THE CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF THE CELL WALLS OF THE ACTINOMYCETALES AND ITS RELATION TO THEIR SYSTEMATIC POSITION

Abstract

Washed and dried cultures of Actinomyces bovis, A. israeli, Nocardia asteroides, Streptomyces albus, S. griseus, and Micromonospora chalcea were treated as described by Scholl (1908). Neither chitin nor cellulose, which form the framework of the Eumycetes, could be isolated. Therefore, from this chemical point of view the Actinomycetales have nothing in common with the true fungi, but rather with bacteria. These findings are in complete agreement with the morphological features of the Actinomycetales which indicate their place among the bacteria.