PARTICIPATION OF HALOBACTERIA IN CRYSTAL-FORMATION AND THE CRYSTALLIZATION RATE OF NACL

The presence of extremely halophilic archaebacteria in NaCl solution i ncreased the number and size of cubic crystals of halite formed and al so yielded dendritic crystals. Various dissolved and suspended materia ls such as glucose, glycerol, casein hydrolysate, amino acids, ferrocy anide, silica gel, eubacteria, halobacteria, and surface layers (S-lay ers) of Haloarcula strain SP8807 were evaluated for their ability to m odify the crystal habit of halite. The results showed that whole cells and surface layers (S-layers) of Haloarcula strain SP8807 were able t o induce the formation of dendritic crystals. Negative staining and so dium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel (SDS-PAGE) analysis suggest th at the proteinaceous constituents of extremely halophilic archaebacter ial S-layers may determine the crystal form of halite.