SYNTHESIS OF CELLULOSE FROM ETHANOL-SOLUBLE PRECURSORS IN GREEN PLANTS

Abstract

The formation of microfibrillar material from filtered 80% (v/v) ethanol extracts of etiolated Avena coleoptiles and Pisum seedlings was demonstrated by electron microscopy. The microfibrils were resistant to alkali, molar acetic acid, and extraction by lipid solvents. After acid hydrolysis, only glucose was detected as a component neutral sugar. The X-ray diffraction powder diagram of these microfibrils was identical with that of a standard alkali-digested bacterial cellulose. On this evidence, the microfibrils are assumed to be cellulose produced from a soluble precursor together with an extracellular bacterial enzyme. The general similarity between these results and those previously obtained with extracts of Acetobacter xylinum is discussed.