was prepared for GPC analysis by modification by phenyl isocyanate
to form cellulose carbanilates.39 (link) A volume
of 100 μL of phenyl isocyanate in 500 μL of pyridine was
added to 1 mg of cellulose under a stream of dry argon gas. Samples
were sealed in ampoules and rotated slowly at 70 °C for 48 h.
Unreacted phenyl isocyanate was quenched with 1.2 mL of methanol.
Samples were dried overnight at 40 °C under a stream of dry argon
gas, dissolved in tetrahydrofuran, and filtered through 0.2 μm
nylon filters (Millipore). GPC was performed with a KD-806M column
(Shodex) using tetrahydrofuran. A specific refractive index (dn/dc) of 0.169 mL g–14 (link) was used for cellulose tricarbanilates
in tetrahydrofuran. Enzymatic synthesis of cellulose from UDP-Glc
was performed with UDP-[14C]-Glc, as described by McManus
et al.11 (link) All reactions were performed at
30 °C or as specified in the figure legends. The synthesized
cellulose was treated with 2% sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and then
solubilized with 8% LiCl (w/v) in dimethylacetamide for GPC analysis,
as described previously.25 (link) Radioactivity
was quantified by a Beckman Coulter LS6500 scintillation counter using
ScintiVerse (Fisher Scientific) scintillation fluid.