Cell wall-associated inorganic substances from Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Abstract

Cell walls of Pseudomonas aeruginosa were digested by a wet-ashing technique and analyzed for 12 different cations. The results indicated that these cell wall-associated inorganic substances can be classed broadly into major, minor, and trace elements. Phosphorus, K⁺, Mg²⁺, and Ca²⁺ were considered major elements since they are present in relatively high concentrations; Na⁺ and Fe³⁺ were considered minor elements; and, Zn²⁺, Pb²⁺, Co²⁺, Cu²⁺, Mn²⁺, and Sr²⁺ were considered trace elements.