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A Function for the Extracellular Polysaccharide of Azotobacter vinelandii

Nature volume 184, pages 1934–1935 (1959)Cite this article

Abstract

RECENT studies on the nitrogen-fixing pseudomonads and their polysaccharides1,2 have refocused attention on the function of these extra-cellular products. Beijerinck3 observed the disappearance of a mucus produced by Bacillus polymyxa, and recently the pseudomonads have been shown to degrade their extra-cellular polysaccharide4, making it plausible that these materials may serve as carbon and energy reserves. Since no definitive experiments on the usefulness of an extra-cellular polysaccharide to the organism are reported to date the following preliminary study was made.

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References

  1. Proctor, M. H., and Wilson, P. W., Nature, 182, 891 (1958).

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  2. Proctor, M. H., and Wilson, P. W., Bact. Proc., 112 (1959).

  3. Beijerinck, M. W., and den Dooren de Jong, L. E., Kon. Akad. van Wetenschappen Amsterdam, Proc., 25, 279 (1922).

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  4. Proctor, M. H., and Wilson, P. W. (in preparation).

  5. Breed, R. S., Murray, E. G. D., and Hitchens, A. P., ‘Bergey's Manual of Determinative Bacteriology’ sixth edit. (Williams and Wilkins. Co., Baltimore, 1948).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge,

    MICHAEL H. PROCTOR

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  1. MICHAEL H. PROCTOR
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PROCTOR, M. A Function for the Extracellular Polysaccharide of Azotobacter vinelandii . Nature 184, 1934–1935 (1959). https://doi.org/10.1038/1841934a0

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