Journal of Industrial Microbiology

, Volume 5, Issue 2–3, pp 131–138 | Cite as

Formation of an extracellular energy reserve byCellulomonas flavigena strain KU

  • K. C. Voepel
  • C. S. Buller
Original Papers
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:

Summary

Conditions of growth are described which lead to the formation of a dense capsule aboutCellulomonas flavigena and provide data which suggest that, although accumulated as an extracellular structure, it may function as an energy reserve. The capsule is formed when the bacteria are cultured in a minimal medium containing an excess of one of several carbohydrates. The bacterial cells which are encapsulated are also densely aggregated. The capsule is not formed and the cells are not aggregated when the bacteria are cultured in complex growth media. The transfer of aggregated cells to a medium devoid of carbon and energy source results in disappearance of the capsule and disaggregation of the cells.

Key words

Capsule Aggregation Disaggregation Polyglucan 
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Copyright information

© Society for Industrial Microbiology 1990

Authors and Affiliations

  • K. C. Voepel
    • 1
  • C. S. Buller
    • 1
  1. 1.Department of MicrobiologyUniversity of KansasLawrenceU.S.A.

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