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Synthesis of Cellulose by Resting Cells of Acetobacter xylinum

Nature volume 159, pages 64–65 (1947)Cite this article

Abstract

IN plants, cellulose is formed intracellularly, by a process the chemistry of which is completely unknown. Microscopic evidence adduced by Farr suggests that the conditions of cellulose formation in green plants are very complex1,2. But in cultures of the bacterium Acetobacter xylinum, true cellulose3,4,5,6 in the form of a mesh of beautifully defined microscopic fibrils occurs as an extracellular product7,8. In view of the success which has attended application of bacterial tools to the elucidation of the mechanism of biosynthesis of several polysaccharides9,10, employment of A. xylinum in the study of the mechanism of cellulose formation would seem to be an obvious consideration.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Hormone Research Laboratory, Hebrew University, Jerusalem

    S. HESTRIN

  2. Department of Hygiene and Bacteriology, Hebrew University, Jerusalem

    M. ASCHNER & J. MAGER

Authors
  1. S. HESTRIN
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  2. M. ASCHNER
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  3. J. MAGER
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HESTRIN, S., ASCHNER, M. & MAGER, J. Synthesis of Cellulose by Resting Cells of Acetobacter xylinum. Nature 159, 64–65 (1947). https://doi.org/10.1038/159064a0

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