Characterization of structural component of cell walls of alkalophilic strain of Bacillus sp. C-125. Preparation of poly(gamma-L-glutamate) from cell wall component.

The cell wall of an alkalophilic strain of Bacillus sp. C-125 is composed of A1 gamma-peptidoglycan, a teichuronic acid and an unknown acidic polymer composed of glutamic acid and glucuronic acid, of which the molar ratio is approx. 4-5:1. Poly(gamma-L-glutamate) was prepared from the acidic polymer by removal of almost all of the glucuronic residues with trifluoromethanesulphonic acid treatment and purified chromatographically. The Mr of the polyglutamate preparation was estimated to be 14,000 by gel chromatography, or 43,000 on the basis of the content of N-terminal acid residues. The acidic polymer found in the cell wall of the organism was concluded to be a polyglutamate substituted with (oligo)glucuronic acid residues or a complex composed of two kinds of polymers (polyglutamate and polyglucuronate).