Molecular Size and Chain Length Distribution in <i>Acanthamoeba</i> Cellulose*

Abstract

SYNOPSIS Evidence obtained by total hydrolysis, partial acetolysis, periodate oxidation, as well as treatment with amylase, emulsin, and Trichoderma viride β‐(1→4)‐glucanase, verified that the alkali insoluble component of Acanthamoeba castellanii was pure β‐(1→4)‐glucan. The weight average chain length of the cellulose varied from DP = 3170 to DP = 4130 (mean DP = 3480) with polysaccharide obtained from seven seemingly identical cultures. Isolation of the cyst‐wall cellulose by nondegrading means indicated that alkali extraction was not depolymerizing the polysaccharide. Fractionation of cellulose obtained from a single culture produced fractions from DP = 550 to DP = 4550 (mean DP = 3280; 98.7% of the original cellulose), indicating that the cellulose is polydisperse.