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Applied Research THE LABORATORY OF R. MALCOLM BROWN, JR. Acetobacter xylinum |
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Paper Figure 1: Acetobacter
xylinum is a gram negative
bacterium and is unique in its prolific synthesis of cellulose. Rows of
pores characteristically secrete mini-crystals of glucan chains which
then coalesce into microfibrils. Clusters of microfibrils result in a
compound structure known as the ribbon. The ribbon can be observed
directly using light microscopy, and time lapse studies show Acetobacter
cells generating cellulose.
Acetobacter is the model system for study of the enzymes and genes involved in cellulose biosynthesis. The organism also promises to be an important future source for cellulose in the textile, paper, and lumber industries, provided its fermentation can be effectively scaled up. |