Binding of an inert, cationic osmium probe to walls of Bacillus subtilis.

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Abstract
X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy and EM of unstained specimens were used to study the binding of chloropentaammineosmium(III) chloride to isolated walls of B. subtilis subtilis. Native walls bound 0.220 .mu.mol of the Os probe per mg (dry weight) of walls, whereas walls which were chemically treated to neutralize the available carboxylate groups of the peptidoglycan bound only 0.040 .mu.mol. Teichoic acid-depleted walls bound 0.210 .mu.mol. Thin sections of all wall types showed the Os probe to be scattered throughout the wall matrix as a small staining deposit. The results support the idea that the metal ion-building capacity of these walls is mediated by the available carboxylate groups in the wall fabric.