STARCH SYNTHESIS IN CHLORELLA VULGARIS

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Abstract
Ch. vulgaris was found to deposit starch, in amounts up to 20% of the dry weight of the cells, when grown in a medium containing glucose. The cells did not contain cellulose or chitin. The starch was difficult to extract, being associated with an alkali-soluble, dextrorotatory, cell-wall polysaccharide. The starch, after extraction by a 26% solution of calcium chloride at 120[degree]C., had properties similar to starches from higher plants. It was composed of amylose (30-40%; and amylopectih. Glucose-l-C14 was incorporated into the starch by growing cells without much breakdown and resynthesis. Cell-free extracts from the alga contained a phosphorylase and a branching enzyme similar to those of the potato. These brought about the synthesis of an amylopectin-glycogen type polysaccharide from glucose-1-phosphate. It is concluded that the mechanism of starch synthesis in Ch. vulgaris is essentially the same as in higher plants.

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