In situ microscopic observation of chitin and fungal cells with chitinous cell walls in hydrothermal conditions - PubMed (original) (raw)

In situ microscopic observation of chitin and fungal cells with chitinous cell walls in hydrothermal conditions

Shigeru Deguchi et al. Sci Rep. 2015.

Abstract

Recent findings of intact chitin in fossil records suggest surprisingly high recalcitrance of this biopolymer during hydrothermal treatments. We also know in the experience of everyday life that mushroom, cells of which have chitinous cell walls, do not fall apart however long they are simmered. We used in situ optical microscopy to examine chitin and fungal cells with chitinous cell walls during hydrothermal treatments, and obtained direct evidence that they remained undegraded at temperatures well over 200 °C. The results show very hot and compressed water is needed to make mushrooms mushy.

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Figures

Figure 1

Figure 1. In situ optical microscopic images showing dissolution of a flake of chitin in supercritical water.

Images were taken under a constant pressure of 25 MPa. Each image is 170 μm × 170 μm. A video clip showing the dissolution process is available in Movie S1.

Figure 2

Figure 2. Change of the size of a C. liquefaciens cell as a function of temperature.

Insets show microscopic images corresponding to the temperature of the data points indicated by arrows. Each images are 26 μm × 26 μm. A video clip showing the whole process is available in Movie S2.

Figure 3

Figure 3. Change of the size of a C. liquefaciens cell in water between 130 °C and 310 °C as a function of temperature.

Pressure was kept constant at 25 MPa. Insets show microscopic images corresponding to the temperature of the data points indicated by arrows. Each images are 26 μm × 26 μm.

Figure 4

Figure 4. Morphological change of F. velutipes cells in hydrothermal conditions.

a) A series of in situ high-resolution optical microscopic images showing hyphae of F. velutipes between 100 °C and 388 °C and at a constant pressure of 25 MPa. Each images are 327 μm × 192 μm. A video clip showing the whole process is available in Movie S3. (b) Change of length (circle) and width (square) of hyphae of F. velutipes as a function of temperature.

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