The Preparation and Characterization of Cell Walls and the Preparation of Flagella of Vibrio fetus

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Abstract
Methods are described for the preparation of cell- wall material and flagella from V. fetus. In common with certain other gram-negative organisms V. fetus apparently possesses a three-layer wall which, it is proposed, consists of an outer lipo-protein layer, a middle lipopolysaccharide layer and an inner muco-peptide layer. These layers were studied chemically and by electron microscopy after various extraction and enzymic degradation procedures with whole-wall material. None of the layers of the wall was found to possess a microscopically discernible substructure, although the extracted lipopolysaccharide agglomerated into a characteristic stringy array. The probable function, contribution to cellular rigidity, and composition of the wall layers is discussed.