Microfibril assembly by granules of chitin synthetase.

Abstract

Purified preparations of chitin synthetase (EC 2.4.1.16; UDP-2-acetamido-2-deoxy-D-glucose:chitin 4-beta-acetamidodeoxyglucosyltransferase), capable of forming microfibrils in vitro, were isolated from yeast cells of Mucor rouxii. Chitin synthetase was obtained either by substrate-induced liberation of bound enzyme (54,000 x g pellet) or by isolation of unbound enzyme present in the 54,000 x g supernatant of a cell-free extract. Both preparations contained ellipsoidal granules from about 350 to 1000 A diameter. Many granules exhibited a marked depression. No typical unit membrane profiles appeared in thin sections of glutaraldehyde/OsO4-fixed samples. Upon incubation with substrate and activators, chitin microfibrils were produced. The microfibrils were often found intimately associated with granules. The most common configurations were: a microfibril with a granule at one end, or two microfibrils "arising" from the same granule. These findings lend support to the granule hypothesis for the elaboration of cell wall microfibrils by end-synthesis.

Keywords

ChitinMicrofibrilGranule (geology)Cell wallGlutaraldehydeBiochemistryEnzymeChemistryBiophysicsBiologyChromatographyCelluloseChitosan

MeSH Terms

Cell WallCell-Free SystemCentrifugationDensity GradientChitin SynthaseCytoplasmic GranulesHexosyltransferasesMembranesMicroscopyElectronMucorSolubility

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Publication Info

Year: 1975
Type: article
Volume: 72
Issue: 7
Pages: 2706-2710
Citations: 99
Access: Closed

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APA Style

                            
                                
                                    José Ruíz-Herrera, 
                                
                                    V. O. Sing, 
                                
                                    William J. Van Der Woude
                                
                                et al.
                            
                            (1975). 
                            Microfibril assembly by granules of chitin synthetase.. 
                            Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
                            , 72
                            (7)
                            , 2706-2710.
                            https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.72.7.2706
                        

Identifiers

DOI: 10.1073/pnas.72.7.2706
PMID: 1058485
PMCID: PMC432839

Data Quality

Data completeness: 86%