Cell Wall Composition of Enteromorpha intestinalis

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Abstract
Mechanically isolated cell walls were prepared from E. intestinalis and examined by biochemical analyse and physical methods. Polysaccharides made up 63% of wall dry weight and incorporated glucose, galactose, xylose, rhamnose and glucuronic acid residues. In addition, a small quantity (0.3%) of glucosamine was detected. Specific analyses for glucose and galactose demonstrated that these sugars accounted for 22.4% and 5.3% of wall weight, respectively. Walls contained 9.2% protein consisting of at least 18 amino acids, including hydroxyproline (0.45% of wall weight). Lipids were significant components (13.8% total) and most of the lipid (10.4%) was tightly bound to the wall fabric. A small ash content of 1.4% was found; its composition is unknown. P and S could not be demonstrated by microchemical tests. About 30% of the carbohydrate content of wall was solubilized by sequential treatments with hot water, KOH, and acetic acid-NaOCl and the residual fraction (.alpha.-cellulose) contained only glucose and xylose residues. An analysis of the .alpha.-cellulose fraction with .beta.-glucan hydrolases provides evidence for the presence of cellulose and (1 .fwdarw. 3)-.beta.-D-glucan(s) also. Although typical microfibrils were seen in electron micrographs, cellulose I could not be demonstrated by X-ray diffraction. An anomalous X-ray diagram, resembling that of cellulose II was observed.