Comparison of nitrogen content amino acid composition and glucosamine content of cell walls of various chlorococcalean algae

Two types of ultrastructure of the outer cell wall layer of chlorococcalean algae are distinguished. The first containing the acetolysis resistant biopolymer also termed algaenan composed of polymethylenic chains. This type shows a membrane-like trilaminar structure. The second type shows homogeneous structure of the outer cell wall layer and does not contain Biopolymer. Differences in the nitrogen-containing cell wall-components of various strains forming and not forming biopolymer (i.e. total nitrogen, amino acid pattern, as well as hexosamine content) and their relationship with the occurrence of biopolymer are presented. The paper also shows differences in amino acid pattern and glucosamine content between cell walls isolated from homogenates and cell walls of mother cells. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.