The fenestrated peptidoglycan layer of Deinococcus radiodurans

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Abstract
The peptidoglycan layer of D. radiodurans strain Sark was isolated by centrifugation after digesting broken cells with 2% (wt/vol) sodium dodecyl sulfate at 43.degree. C; sections revealed the characteristic fenestrations (10 nm in diameter). These fenestrations were stained by or filled with 1.0% ammonium molybdate but were not visible when the isolated peptidoglycan layer was stained with 1.0% uranyl acetate. The fenestrations were not visible when negatively stained with ammonium molybdate after modification of the sacculus by carboxymethylation of free amino groups by treatment with iodoacetate. The surface of the sacculus was smooth when shadowed with C-P. The isolated layer consisted only of peptidoglycan components. The fenestrations evidently consist of peptidoglycan of different reaction to metal salts and probably enriched in available amino groups.