CELL-WALL COMPOSITION IN THERMOHYDROGENIUM-KIRISHIENSE AND THERMOHYDROGENIUM-LACTOETHYLICUM

The cell wall composition of the thermophilic anaerobic bacteria Themo hydrogenium kirishiense and Thermohydrogenium lactoethylicum was deter mined. Peptidoglycan of these bacteria belongs to the Al gamma type an d constitutes 8-13 and 18-19% of T. kirishiense and T. lactaethylicum cell walls, respectively. The cell wall of T. kirishiense contains rib ose and galactosamine. The cell walls of both bacteria contain large a mounts of protein. In T. kirishiense, nonpeptidoglycan amino acids mak e up 28-32% of the dry cell wall weight. Of these, acidic amino acids constitute 28.9%, basic amino acids constitute 9.2%, and hydroxy amino acids, 28.7%.