Concerning the molecular weight, shape, and size of polyglucose isolated from HeLa cells

Abstract

Light-scattering measurements were made on a preparation of polyglucose isolated from HeLa cells. The molecular weight was determined, from a Zimm plot of the data, to be 4.6[middle dot]106. The character of the angular dependence of the particle-scattering factor suggests the shape of the particle in solution with 779 A gyration radius approximates that of a rigid rod, 2700 A in length with a thickness of 50 A. By quantitative electron microscopy, using reference latex spheres, the molecular weight was estimated to be 1.35[middle dot]106. Electron micrographs show the preparation when air-dried on a collodion membrane to be composed of relatively uniform spheroid particles, approx. 300 A in diameter.