D-(-)-poly-β-hydroxybutyrate in membranes of genetically competent bacteria

Abstract

D-(-)-poly-β-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-β-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-β-hydroxybutyrate forms an organized gel structure in the membranes which is very labile. The concentrations of organized D-(-)-poly-β-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.