THE SHAPE OF THE TIPS OF GROWING BACTERIAL CELLULOSE MICROFIBRILS AND ITS RELATION TO THE MECHANISM OF CELLULOSE BIOSYNTHESIS

Abstract

Single growing bacterial cellulose microfibrils show blunt tips in contrast to observations reported from earlier studies. The hypothesis of crystallization of the cellulose microfibril from a soluble, intermediate high polymer is not consistent with the observed shape of the tips but longitudinal growth of the microfibril from activated single residues of glucose is in agreement with this morphology.