STUDIES ON REACTIONS RELATING TO CARBOHYDRATES AND POLYSACCHARIDES: XLVI. STRUCTURE OF THE CELLULOSE SYNTHESIZED BY THE ACTION OF ACETOBACTER XYLINUS ON FRUCTOSE AND GLYCEROL

Abstract

The membranes synthesized by the action of Acetobacter xylinus on fructose and on glycerol have been shown (after suitable purification) by the recognized methods of methylation, acetylation, acetolysis and hydrolysis to be chemically identical with cotton cellulose. These conclusions are confirmed by the results of X-ray analysis.The X-ray investigation by W. A. Sisson and G. L. Clark indicates the identity of the cellulose membranes formed from glucose, fructose, glycerol, sucrose, galactose and mannitol by the action of Acetobacter xylinus and thus lends support to the view that the same polysaccharide is synthesized by the organism whenever cell-wall formation (growth) occurs and that this polysaccharide is chemically identical with cotton cellulose.