Biomaterial Database

Surface arrays on the wall of Sporosarcina ureae. 1979

T J Beveridge

Thin sections of the cell wall of Sporosarcina ureae revealed two structurally distinct layers: a continuous amorphous zone, approximately 15 nm thick, which was adjacent to the plasma membrane, and an overlying periodic zone, approximately 16 nm thick. Sequential Triton X-100 and lysozyme treatment of isolated walls produced small fragments of the outer regular structure which allowed high-resolution, negatively stained images suitable for optical diffractometric analysis. These data suggested a tetragonal array of complex polygonal units of C-C spacing = 12 nm, with each unit joined to another by two delicate linkers. The array was entirely proteinaceous, consisting of a 150,000-dalton polypeptide which had a high affinity for Mg2+. It proved to be sensitive to chelating agents, 5 mM concentrations of Ca2+, Sr2+, or Ba2+, proteases, heat greater than or equal to 45 degrees C, sodium dodecyl sulfate, and pH greater than or equal to 5.8, but magnesium offered protection against the chelating agents and the deleterious salts.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008854	Microscopy, Electron	Microscopy using an electron beam, instead of light, to visualize the sample, thereby allowing much greater magnification. The interactions of ELECTRONS with specimens are used to provide information about the fine structure of that specimen. In TRANSMISSION ELECTRON MICROSCOPY the reactions of the electrons that are transmitted through the specimen are imaged. In SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPY an electron beam falls at a non-normal angle on the specimen and the image is derived from the reactions occurring above the plane of the specimen.	Electron Microscopy
D009113	Muramidase	A basic enzyme that is present in saliva, tears, egg white, and many animal fluids. It functions as an antibacterial agent. The enzyme catalyzes the hydrolysis of 1,4-beta-linkages between N-acetylmuramic acid and N-acetyl-D-glucosamine residues in peptidoglycan and between N-acetyl-D-glucosamine residues in chitodextrin. EC 3.2.1.17.	Lysozyme,Leftose,N-Acetylmuramide Glycanhydrolase,Glycanhydrolase, N-Acetylmuramide,N Acetylmuramide Glycanhydrolase
D011092	Polyethylene Glycols	Polymers of ETHYLENE OXIDE and water, and their ethers. They vary in consistency from liquid to solid depending on the molecular weight indicated by a number following the name. They are used as SURFACTANTS, dispersing agents, solvents, ointment and suppository bases, vehicles, and tablet excipients. Some specific groups are NONOXYNOLS, OCTOXYNOLS, and POLOXAMERS.	Macrogols,Polyoxyethylenes,Carbowax,Macrogol,Polyethylene Glycol,Polyethylene Oxide,Polyethyleneoxide,Polyglycol,Glycol, Polyethylene,Glycols, Polyethylene,Oxide, Polyethylene,Oxides, Polyethylene,Polyethylene Oxides,Polyethyleneoxides,Polyglycols,Polyoxyethylene
D002413	Cations, Divalent	Positively charged atoms, radicals or groups of atoms with a valence of plus 2, which travel to the cathode or negative pole during electrolysis.	Divalent Cations
D002473	Cell Wall	The outermost layer of a cell in most PLANTS; BACTERIA; FUNGI; and ALGAE. The cell wall is usually a rigid structure that lies external to the CELL MEMBRANE, and provides a protective barrier against physical or chemical agents.	Cell Walls,Wall, Cell,Walls, Cell
D001406	Bacillaceae	A family of bacteria which produce endospores. They are mostly saprophytes from soil, but a few are insect or animal parasites or pathogens.