Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “cell wall composition”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 1,045 records · Page 58Linked to original sources

Mutants in DEFECTIVE GLYCOSYLATION, an Arabidopsis homolog of an oligosaccharyltransferase complex subunit, show protein underglycosylation and defects in cell differentiation and growth.

A mutant called defective glycosylation1-1 (dgl1-1) was identified in Arabidopsis based on a growth defect of the dark-grown hypocotyl and an abnormal composition of the non-cellulosic cell wall polysaccharides. dgl1-1 is altered in a protein ortholog of human OST48 or yeast WBP1, an essential protein subunit of the oligosaccharyltransferase (OST) complex, which is responsible for the transfer in the ER of the N-linked glycan precursor onto Asn residues of candidate proteins. Consistent with the known function of the OST complex in eukaryotes, the dgl1-1 mutation led to a reduced N-linked glycosylation of the ER-resident protein disulfide isomerase. A second more severe mutant (dgl1-2) was embryo-lethal. Microscopic analysis of dgl1-1 revealed developmental defects including reduced cell elongation and the collapse and differentiation defects of cells in the central cylinder. These defects were accompanied by changes in the non-cellulosic polysaccharide composition, including the accumulation of ectopic callose. Interestingly, in contrast to other dwarf mutants that are altered in early steps of the N-glycan processing, dgl1-1 did not exhibit a cellulose deficiency. Together, these results confirm the role of DGL1 in N-linked glycosylation, cell growth and differentiation in plants.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Taxonomic significance of 2,4-diaminobutyric acid isomers in the cell wall peptidoglycan of actinomycetes and reclassification of Clavibacter toxicus as Rathayibacter toxicus comb. nov.

An HPLC procedure which separates D- and L-amino acid isomers was applied to an analysis of peptidoglycan of 2,4-diaminobutyric acid (DAB)-containing actinomycetes. The cell wall peptidoglycans of species of the genera Agromyces, Clavibacter and Rathayibacter contain DAB and have been differentiated principally by their menaquinone profile. These peptidoglycans are known to be identical in structure, all being of the B2 gamma type, possessing both D- and L-DAB. The type strains of all the subspecies of Clavibacter michiganesis have D- and L-DAB in almost equal proportions in their cell wall peptidoglycan as previously reported. In contrast, the type strains of Clavibacter toxicus and all valid species of the genera Agromyces and Rathayibacter contain the L-isomer of DAB almost exclusively. This characteristic is in good agreement with phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rDNA sequences and menaquinone profiles. On the basis of these data, the transfer of Clavibacter toxicus to the genus Rathayibacter as Rathayibacter toxicus comb. nov. is proposed. The isomer profile of DAB is shown to be a good taxonomic marker to differentiate these genera.

Actinomycetales↗

Transfer of polychlorophenol-degrading Rhodococcus chlorophenolicus (Apajalahti et al. 1986) to the genus Mycobacterium as Mycobacterium chlorophenolicum comb. nov.

Three independently isolated polychlorophenol-degrading strains of bacteria were characterized on the basis of chemotaxonomic and nutritional characteristics. Previously, these strains were assigned to the species Rhodococcus chlorophenolicus, which was described on the basis of the properties of one of the strains, strain PCP-I(T) (T = type strain) (J. H. A. Apajalahti, P. Kärpänoja, and M. S. Salkinoja-Salonen, Int. J. Syst. Bacteriol 36:246-251, 1986). However, the results of analyses of mycolic acids suggested that these organisms should be transferred to the genus Mycobacterium as Mycobacterium chlorophenolicum. These bacteria have meso-diaminopimelic acid, arabinose, and galactose as cell wall constituents, mycolic acids containing 75 to 80 carbon atoms, and a predominant menaquinone with nine isoprenoid units and one hydrogenated double bond. The fatty acids include mainly straight-chain saturated and monounsaturated fatty acids with 10 to 18 carbon atoms and a large proportion of 10-methyloctadecanoic acid (tuberculostearic acid). The G+C contents of the DNAs of the three strains range from 67 to 69 mol%.

Bacteriophages↗

Janibacter brevis sp. nov., a new trichloroethylene-degrading bacterium isolated from polluted environments.

Two strains that were strongly able to degrade trichloroethylene were isolated from contaminated environmental samples. The isolates are non-motile, aerobic, non-spore-forming, gram-positive coccoid to short rods with cell-wall peptidoglycan containing meso-diaminopimelic acid. The major type of menaquinone is MK-8(H4). The polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylinositol. Mycolic acids were absent. The G+C content of the DNA was 72 mol%. Furthermore, comparison of 16S rDNA sequences shows that the isolates clearly belong to the genus Janibacter. The isolates differ from Janibacter limosus at the species level, as shown by the value for DNA-DNA hybridization. It is therefore proposed that the strains be assigned to the genus Janibacter as Janibacter brevis sp. nov.

Actinomycetales↗

Plasmodesmata of maize root tips: structure and composition.

A procedure is described for obtaining clean maize cell wall preparations that contain embedded plasmodesmata. Negative staining and rotary shadowing have been used with transmission electron microscopy to visualise the plasmodesmata in these isolated walls, and to assess the effects of simple biochemical treatments on plasmodesmal components. Light protease treatment removes material from the exposed ends of plasmodesmata but does not extract the plasmodesmal core, which lies within the cell wall. However, heavy proteolysis occasionally removes the complete plasmodesma, including its enclosing collar structure, from the wall. Extraction with urea has a similar effect. The collar itself appears not to be proteinaceous in composition, although protein may bind it into the wall. Callose is localised in the wall around plasmodesmata, but does not appear to be a constituent of the collar. The membrane components of the plasmodesma (plasma membrane and desmotubule) can be extracted with membrane-solubilising detergents. This treatment releases from the wall a small number of proteins that are regarded as being potentially of plasmodesmal origin. These results show that plasmodesmata from maize can be dissected biochemically and suggest a strategy for the characterisation of individual molecular components.

Cell Fractionation↗

Effects of antibiotics on the cation composition of Bifidobacterium bifidum subspecies pennsylvanicum.

Cell wall-inhibitory antibiotics caused a marked reduction of intracellular K+ and a small increase of Na+, together resulting in a decline of intracellular cation content. Chloramphenicol and tetracycline increased intracellular K+ but actinomycin decreased both Na+ and K+ content. The release and uptake of 86Rb+ were similarly affected by the antibiotics as the K+ content. The osmotic resistance of the protoplasts isolated from antibiotic-treated cells was apparently increased by inhibitors of cell wall synthesis, but decreased by inhibitors of protein synthesis. The ionophore valinomycin enhanced growth in normal and K+-rich medium, although cells released more than 90% of intracellular K+.

Actinomycetaceae↗

[Composition and biological activity of steroid glycosides from a suspended culture of Dioscorea deltoidea Wall cells].

Two major steroid spirostanol glycosides (oligospirostanosides): deltoside (melting point, 296 degrees C, [alpha]D10:-90.8 degrees C (c 5.0,Py) and dioscine (melting point, 285-285 degrees C, [alpha]D10:-106.5 degrees C (c 5.0, Py) and a minor glycoside diosgenin-3-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1-->2)-beta-D-glucopyranoside were isolated form cell suspensions of Discorea deltoidea after fermentation with beta-glucosidase. The cell suspensions contained these glycosides as the furostanol analogs (oligofurostanosides) deltoside, protodioscine, and delta 5-furosten-3 beta,22,26-triol-3-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1-->2)-beta-D- glucopyranoside. The native oligofurostanosides isolated from D. deltoidea cell suspensions have a high biological activity and can be used as phytobiostimulators in medicine, veterinary, and agriculture.

Carbohydrate Sequence↗

Features of ionogenic group composition in polymeric matrix of lily pollen wall.

The composition of ionogenic groups and ion-exchange capacity were studied in the polymeric matrix of cell walls isolated from the pollen grain and tissues of vegetative organs (leaves and stems) of Lilium longiflorum Thunb. The ion-exchange capacity was evaluated at different pH values and ionic strength of 100 mM. In the two-layered pollen wall and the somatic cell walls four types of ionogenic groups were found: amino groups, two carboxyl groups (represented by residues of uronic and hydroxycinnamic acids), and phenolic OH-groups. The groups of all four types are present in the intine, whereas the exine contains one type of anion-exchange and two types of cation-exchange groups. The contents of each type group and their ionization constants were determined. The qualitative and quantitative compositions of structural polymers of the pollen intine and somatic cell walls are significantly different. It is suggested that hydroxycinnamic acids should be involved in cross-linking of polysaccharide chains in both the intine and somatic cell primary walls, and such cross-links play a crucial role in the structural organization and integrity of the pollen grain wall.

Biopolymers↗

Luteococcus japonicus gen. nov., sp. nov., a new gram-positive coccus with LL-diaminopimelic acid in the cell wall.

A new gram-positive, nonmotile coccus is described. Strains IFO 12422T (T = type strain) and IFO 15385 in the Institute for Fermentation, Osaka, culture collection, which were isolated from soil and water, respectively, have the following chemotaxonomic characteristics: menaquinone MK-9(H4); G + C content of DNA of 67 mol%; and LL-diaminopimelic acid, alanine, glycine, and glutamic acid in a molar ratio of ca. 1:2:1:1 (type A3 gamma). Mycolic acids are not present. The taxonomic characteristics of these organisms are different from those of previously described gram-positive, high-G + C-content cocci. The partial 16S rRNA sequence indicated that IFO 12422T represents a distinct line of descent among gram-positive bacteria with a high G + C content. The name Luteococcus japonicus gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is strain IFO 12422.

Base Composition↗

Some properties of two autolytic-defective mutants of Streptococcus faecalis ATCC 9790.

The isolation and some properties of two mutants of Streptococcus faecalis ATCC 9790 (S. faecium) which autolyze at a much slower rate than the wild type are described. Compared with the wild type, mutant E71 autolyzed more slowly, contained less active but more latent autolysin in the isolated wall fraction, and possessed a wall of very similar chemical composition and degree of cross-bridging. Ultrastructural studies of exponential phase cells showed that cells of E71 were on the average slightly longer and had slightly thickened walls compared to the wild type. Mutant E81 autolyzed much more slowly, grew exponentially in long chains (8 to 40 cells compared with mainly diplococci), contained much less active and latent autolysin in the wall, and possessed a wall of very similar chemical composition but with about twice the content of N-terminal groups. Mutant E81 walls were more susceptible to isolated autolysin but possessed an autolysin of the same specificity as the wild type. Ultrastructurally E81 cells were, on the average, significantly longer and had thicker walls than the wild type. Mutant E71 may be partially blocked at either transport of autolysin to the wall or in conversion of latent to active autolysin. The pleitropic effects noted in mutant E81 have been taken to suggest a possible membrane defect and to support the role of the autolysin in cell separation.

Alanine↗

[Probe into characteristics of Taraxacum mongolicum ultramicro-power].

OBJECTIVE: To observe and study the tissue characteristics of T. mongolicum ultramicro-power and dissolving-out characteristics of effective compositions. METHOD: By microscopic observation and thin-layer chromatography. RESULT: Nearly all cell walls of T. mongolicum are broken and dissolving-out characteristics of effective compositions are remarkably improved, after it is ultramicro-porphyrized.

Caffeic Acids↗

The Gas1 glycoprotein, a putative wall polymer cross-linker.

The yeast cell wall, which for years has been regarded as a static cellular component, has been revealed to be dynamic in its structure and composition and complex in its enzymatic activity. The S. cerevisiae cell wall is composed of beta-1,3/beta-1,6-glucans, mannoproteins, and chitin, which are assembled into an extracellular matrix essential for maintenance of cell integrity. Gas1p, a glycoprotein anchored to the outer leaflet of the plasma membrane through a glycosylphosphatidylinositol, plays a key role in cell wall assembly. Loss of Gas1p leads to several morphogenetic defects and to a decrease in the amount of cross-links between the cell wall glucans. These defects in turn trigger a compensatory response that guarantees cell viability. Several Gas1p homologs have been isolated from Candida species and S. pombe. The Gas1p family also includes two plant proteins with endo-beta-1,3-glucanase activity. Sequence comparisons reveal that Gas1p family proteins have a modular organization of domains. The genetic and molecular analyses reviewed here suggest that Gas1p could play a role as a polymer cross-linker, presumably by catalyzing a transglycosylation reaction.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Cell wall polymers in Archaea (Archaebacteria).

The distribution of the various cell wall and cell envelope (S-layer) polymers among the main lineages of the domain Archaea (Archaebacteria) and the chemical composition and primary structure of polymers forming rigid cell wall sacculi is described. Differences between bacteria and archaea in their sensitivity to antibiotics which inhibit cell wall synthesis in bacteria are discussed.

Archaea↗

Inhibition of cell wall turnover and autolysis by vancomycin in a highly vancomycin-resistant mutant of Staphylococcus aureus.

A highly vancomycin-resistant mutant (MIC = 100 microg/ml) of Staphylococcus aureus, mutant VM, which was isolated in the laboratory by a step-pressure procedure, continued to grow and synthesize peptidoglycan in the presence of vancomycin (50 microg/ml) in the medium, but the antibiotic completely inhibited cell wall turnover and autolysis, resulting in the accumulation of cell wall material at the cell surface and inhibition of daughter cell separation. Cultures of mutant VM removed vancomycin from the growth medium through binding the antibiotic to the cell walls, from which the antibiotic could be quantitatively recovered in biologically active form. Vancomycin blocked the in vitro hydrolysis of cell walls by autolytic enzyme extracts, lysostaphin and mutanolysin. Analysis of UDP-linked peptidoglycan precursors showed no evidence for the presence of D-lactate-terminating muropeptides. While there was no significant difference in the composition of muropeptide units of mutant and parental cell walls, the peptidoglycan of VM had a significantly lower degree of cross-linkage. These observations and the results of vancomycin-binding studies suggest alterations in the structural organization of the mutant cell walls such that access of the vancomycin molecules to the sites of wall biosynthesis is blocked.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗

The role of the rodlet structure on the physicochemical properties of Aspergillus conidia.

Physico-chemical properties of Aspergillus conidia rely on their outer cell-wall rodlet layer. In A. fumigatus and A. nidulans, the rodlet structure is due to an hydrophobin encoded by homologous rodA genes. To evaluate the role of the rodlet structure on the physico-chemical properties of conidia, we compared hydrophobicity, Lewis acid-base (i.e. electron donor/acceptor) characteristics and electrostatic charge of hydrophobin-less (rodletless) mutant and wild-type conidia of A. fumigatus and A. nidulans. The results obtained by aqueous-solvent partitioning assays, microsphere adhesion assays and microelectrophoresis showed that the disruption of the rodA gene modifies surface properties of A. fumigatus and A. nidulans conidia, and confirmed that the rodlet layer plays a key role in their physico-chemical behaviour. The absence of this layer on A. fumigatus spores led to the appearance of weakly basic and acidic characteristics, and had a slight effect on the hydrophobicity of conidia. Whereas in A. nidulans, it induced a basic character, a marked decrease in hydrophobicity and in the polarization capacity (electronegativity) of conidia. These physico-chemical differences between A. fumigatus and A. nidulans rodletless conidia may be attributed to differences in the composition of the conidial outer cell-wall of the two species.

Aspergillus fumigatus↗

Biochemical changes in Bifidobacterium bifidum var. pennsylvanicus after cell wall inhibition. IX. Metabolism and release of cellular lipids in the presence of antibiotics.

Inhibiton of cell wall synthesis caused simultaneously an increase in cellular phospho-and glycolipids and a marked release of these compounds to the medium. The composition of the cellular and the released glyco-and phospholipids was almost the same. Antibiotics, which inhibit cell wall synthesis, did not influence glycolipid composition, but increased the relative and absolute amounts of disphosphatidylglycerol and its lysoderivatives. Incorporation and chase experiments demonstrated a considerable stimulation of phospholipid metabolism, and of diphosphatidylglycerol synthesis especially. Release of lipids was not accompanied by loss of cellular protein. Omission of Tween 80 from the medium decreased the release by about 50% and increased the relative amounts of the phosphogalactolipids in the cells and in the culture fluid. Inhibitors of protein synthesis and valinomycin caused a decrease in cellular lipidphosphorus content, and a relative increase of the phosphogalactolipids. No release of lipids was observed under these conditions.

Actinomycetaceae↗

Genetic and molecular basis of grass cell-wall degradability. I. Lignin-cell wall matrix interactions.

Lignification limits grass cell-wall digestion by herbivores. Lignification is spatially and temporally regulated, and lignin characteristics differ between cell walls, plant tissues, and plant parts. Grass lignins are anchored within walls by ferulate and diferulate cross-links, p-coumarate cyclodimers, and possibly benzyl ester and ether cross-links. Cell-wall degradability is regulated by lignin concentration, cross-linking, and hydrophobicity but not directly by most variations in lignin composition or structure. Genetic manipulation of lignification can improve grass cell-wall degradability, but the degree of success will depend on genetic background, plant modification techniques employed, and analytical methods used to characterize cell walls.

Animal Feed↗

Getting in touch with Candida albicans: the cell wall of a fungal pathogen.

The cell wall of fungi is a highly complex structure consisting of a network of polysaccharides in which a plethora of different proteins are embedded. It is one of the major organelles of the cell surrounding it like an armor which protects from environmental stresses like osmotic pressure and defines the shape and physical strength of the fungal cell. It is crucial for colonization and infection since it defines the interface between host and pathogen. No similar structure is present in the host, therefore it defines a prime target for drug development. In this context, it has been shown that cell surface proteins are required for adhesion to host cells. The fact, that both pathogenic fungi, like Candida albicans as well as non-pathogenic fungi, like Saccharomyces cerevisiae, in general, have a very similar polysaccharide structure but differ significantly in their protein composition which underscores the importance of cell wall proteins for pathogenesis. However, cell wall proteomics of fungi is a highly challenging task due to the complex biochemistry of these proteins. The extensive post-translational modifications and covalent attachment to the polysaccharide backbone of a large proportion of cell wall proteins makes it a demanding task to isolate and identify them. In this article, we describe the recent approaches that have been developed to describe cell wall dynamics and to isolate and identify cell wall proteins in the pathogenic yeast C. albicans.

Animals↗