CELL-WALL COMPOSITION AND OSMOTIC FRAGILITY OF SELECTED MARINE BACTERIA.

Sud, I. J. (University of Florida, Gainesville), and M. E. Tyler. Cell-wall composition and osmotic fragility of selected marine bacteria. J. Bacteriol. 87:696-700. 1964.-Cell-wall composition of three marine pseudomonads, selected to represent a spectrum of osmotic fragilities, was determined and compared with that of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The walls of the marine bacteria were composed predominantly of lipoprotein. No sugars, except glucosamine, were detected, and the reducing values were similar to the respective hexosamine values. These varied from 0.9 to 1.8%, the most osmotically fragile marine bacterium possessing the lowest amount of hexosamine in the wall. Possible relationship between wall hexosamine content and osmotic fragility was indicated.