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. 1983 Nov;156(2):778–788. doi: 10.1128/jb.156.2.778-788.1983

D-(-)-poly-beta-hydroxybutyrate in membranes of genetically competent bacteria.

R N Reusch, H L Sadoff
PMCID: PMC217896  PMID: 6415039

Abstract

D-(-)-Poly-beta-hydroxybutyrate is a constituent of the membranes and the cytoplasms of genetically competent Azotobacter vinelandii, Bacillus subtilis, and Haemophilus influenzae cells. Within each species the concentration of D-(-)-poly-beta-hydroxybutyrate in the membranes and cytoplasm correlates with transformability. Fluorescence analysis of the thermotropic lipid phase transitions in A. vinelandii and B. subtilis cells indicates that D-(-)-poly-beta-hydroxybutyrate forms an organized gel structure in the membranes which is very labile. The concentration of organized D-(-)-poly-beta-hydroxybutyrate in the membranes, which can be estimated from the intensity of its phase transition, can be used to assess the competence of a culture.

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Selected References

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