Isolation and morphology of native intracellular polyglucose granules from Clostridium pasteurianum

Abstract

Intracellular polyglucose granules have been isolated from late log-phase cells of Clostridium pasteurianum. These granules are spherical in shape, heterogeneous in size, and surrounded by a membrane coat which lacks the characteristics of a typical unit membrane. Freeze-etching reveals projections of 12 to 16 nm in diameter in the matrix of the granules, which suggest the presence of polysaccharide fibrils.