'.^6 



FINE-STRUCTURE OF PROTOPLASMIC DERIVATIVES 



III 



wise nothing is known of their constitution. On saponifying the 

 waxes of pine needles, Bougault and Bourdier (1908) obtained co~ 

 hydroxyfatty acids (such as hydroxylauric acid and hydroxypalmitic 

 acid) instead of simple acids and alcohols. Molecules of this kind 

 possess two reactive groups; thus they can together form esters and 

 grow to high-polymeric chains, as shown in Table XXVII. Their 

 discoverers call these waxes "estolids". Their degree of polymeri- 

 zation cannot be very high, as they are still soluble and fusible. 



TABLE XXVII 

 lipophilic cell wall substances 



\ 



Higher alcohols up to C34H^90H 



Cyclic Waxes: 



Molecular structure : 

 (LiJscHER, 1936) 



Estolids: 



-O-CCHa) -C-0-(CH,) -C-O- 



i! " !l 



o o 



(Bougault and Bourdier, 1908J 



Suberin, Cutin and Sporopollenin: 



Molecular structure : 



Spatial network through ester 



and ether bridges 



(Zetzsche, 1932; LiJscHER, 1936) 



Suberin 



Cutin 



Sporopollenin 



Saponification 

 becomes more and 

 more difficult 



Decomposition Products of Sub er in: 



Suberic acid COOH- (CH,)6- COOH 



Phloionolic acid Ci,H3,,(OH)3-COOH 



Phloionic acid COOH- Ci6H3o(OH),- COOH 



Phellonicacid C2iH4.(OH).COOH 



Eicosancdicarboxylic acid COOH- (CH2)3„-COOH 



