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K TOKUYASU

Publications and source records attributed to K TOKUYASU.

11 recordsLinked to original sources

Fine structure of Bacillus subtilis. I. Fixation.

The fine structure of Bacillus subtilis has been studied by observing sections fixed in KMnO(4), OsO(4), or a combination of both. The majority of examinations were made in samples fixed in 2.0 per cent KMnO(4) in tap water. Samples were embedded in butyl methacrylate for sectioning. In general, KMnO(4) fixation appeared to provide much better definition of the boundaries of various structures than did OsO(4). With either type of fixation, however, the surface structure of the cell appeared to consist of two components: cell wall and cytoplasmic membrane. Each of these, in turn, was observed to have a double aspect. The cell wall appeared to be composed of an outer part, broad and light, and an inner part, thin and dense. The cytoplasmic membrane appeared (at times, under KMnO(4) fixation) as two thin lines. In cells fixed first with OsO(4) solution, and then refixed with a mixture of KMnO(4) and OsO(4) solutions, the features revealed were more or less a mixture of those revealed by each fixation alone. A homogeneous, smooth structure, lacking a vacuole-like space, was identified as the nuclear structure in a form relatively free of artifacts. Two unidentified structures were observed in the cytoplasm when B. subtilis was fixed with KMnO(4). One a tortuous, fine filamentous element associated with a narrow light space, was often found near the ends of cells, or attached to one end of the pre-spore. The other showed a special inner structure somewhat similar to cristae mitochondriales.

Bacillus subtilis↗

Fine structure of Bacillus subtilis. II. Sporulation progress.

The sporulation process in Bacillus subtilis has been studied principally with KMnO(4) fixation, but also, for the purpose of comparison, with OsO(4) and mixtures of both fixatives. At a very early stage, the pre-spore is seen to consist of what seems to be the nuclear material and granular substance, surrounded by a layer of dense material destined to become the innermost layer of the spore coat. At a subsequent stage, a light interspace is observed that is destined to become the spore cortex. The mature spore shows a very complex structure. The spore coat is composed of three layers, the middle layer of which consisted of 5 to 8 lamellae of thin membranes and interspaces, both about 20 to 25 A thick. Between the inner layer of the spore coat and the spore cortex, a thin membrane with an affinity to the cortex can be observed. The spore coat is enclosed within two envelopes, one loosely surrounding the core, and the other adhering to it. The process of spore maturation has been studied in detail. Certain peculiar cellular structures have been observed that seemed to represent features of abnormal sporulation processes.

Bacillus subtilis↗

The fine structure of the retina studied with the electron microscope. IV. Morphogenesis of outer segments of retinal rods.

The morphogenesis of the outer segments of retinal rods was studied mainly in the kitten before the opening of the eye, and the probable sequence of the morphogenetic stages is deduced. Since the development of retinal rods is not synchronous, the deductions were based on observations of many single and serial sections. One centriole extends ciliary tubules of about 0.5 micro long, in the growing primitive cilium. Beyond this length, each ciliary tubule becomes a row of small vesicles (called "ciliary vesicles" in this paper), which penetrate into the distal region of the cilium. Where the ciliary vesicles establish contact with the plasma membrane of the distal region of the cilium, more or less deep infoldings of the plasma membrane are observed. In the distal region can be seen rows of tubular or vesicular structures. A few of these membranous structures are continuous with the bottoms of the infoldings. At the following stage, the infoldings disappear and the ciliary vesicles lose contact with the distal plasma membrane. Nonetheless, the formation of the tubular structures continues in the distal region of the primitive outer segment. The tubular structures appear to be transformed into the primitive rod sacs by sidewise enlargement. At a subsequent time, presumably, these primitive rod sacs flatten and are rearranged into a position perpendicular to the long axis of the outer segment. The detailed structure of the basal body of the connecting cilium was also studied by means of serial sections.

Cell Membrane↗