THE USE OF BASIC POLYSACCHARIDES IN HISTOCHEMISTRY AND CYTOCHEMISTRY: IV. PRECIPITATION AND AGGLUTINATION OF BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS BY ASPERGILLUS POLYSACCHARIDE AND DEACETYLATED CHITIN

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Abstract
Solutions of the basic compounds, Aspergillus polysaccharide and deacetylated chitin were tested for their ability to precipitate various materials synthesized by biological cells. All acidic (anionic) polysaccharides tested were precipitated, but non-polar polysaccharides like glycogen and dextran failed to react. Both basic polysaccharides were also able to precipitate ribonucleic acid and deoxyribonucleic acid as well as several proteins. Both polysaccharides agglutinated a variety of bacteria and yeasts as well as erythrocytes and liver, kidney, spleen, sperm and tumor cells of mammalian origin. The significance of these observations was discussed.