STUDIES ON THE PROPERTIES OF A POLYSACCHARIDE CONSTITUENT PRODUCED BY PSEUDOMONAS AERUGINOSA

Abstract

A polysaccharide isolated from cells of Pseudomonas aeruginosa is depolymerized readily by bovine testicular hyaluronidase. The rapid release of the polysaccharide in supernates of organisms grown on solid culture media and suspended in buffer as well as an apparent change in viscosity of the suspension following incubation of suspensions with hyaluronidase suggests that the polysaccharide is attached weakly to the surface of the cell. Electron microscopy of normal cells of Ps. aeruginosa revealed the presence of a viscous constituent which not only surrounds the organism but acts as an intercellular cementing substance resulting in the formation of cell aggregates. Cells exposed by hyaluronidase do not retain their "electron-dense" material, and a series of lumps appear in the cytoplasm. However, hyaluronidase does not interfere with the growth or viability of this organism.