D-(-)-poly-beta-hydroxybutyrate in membranes of genetically competent bacteria.
D-(-)-Poly-beta-hydroxybutyrate is a constituent of the membranes and the cytoplasms of genetically competent Azotobacter vinelandii, Bacillus subtilis, and Haemophilus influenzae cells. Within each species the concentration of D-(-)-poly-beta-hydroxybutyrate in the membranes and cytoplasm correlates with transformability. Fluorescence analysis of the thermotropic lipid phase transitions in A. vinelandii and B. subtilis cells indicates that D-(-)-poly-beta-hydroxybutyrate forms an organized gel structure in the membranes which is very labile. The concentration of organized D-(-)-poly-beta-hydroxybutyrate in the membranes, which can be estimated from the intensity of its phase transition, can be used to assess the competence of a culture.
D001395:Azotobacter / Q000235:genetics*; D001412:Bacillus subtilis / Q000235:genetics*; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000032:analysis; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D006193:Haemophilus influenzae / Q000235:genetics*; D006885:Hydroxybutyrates / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism*; D007700:Kinetics; D008563:Membrane Lipids / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D011091:Polyesters; D011108:Polymers / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism*; D013045:Species Specificity; D013696:Temperature; D000094122:Polyhydroxybutyrates
D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D006885:Hydroxybutyrates; D008563:Membrane Lipids; D011091:Polyesters; D011108:Polymers; C003182:poly-beta-hydroxybutyrate; D000094122:Polyhydroxybutyrates