Heliobacterium chlorum: cell organization and structure.

K R Miller; J S Jacob; U Smith; S Kolaczkowski; M K Bowman

doi:10.1007/bf00402335

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PubMed · 3800552

Heliobacterium chlorum: cell organization and structure.

K R Miller·J S Jacob·U Smith·S Kolaczkowski·M K Bowman

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Abstract

The basic cellular organization of Heliobacterium chlorum is described using the freeze-etching technique. Internal cell membranes have not been observed in most cells, leading to the conclusion that the photosynthetic apparatus of these organisms must be localized in the cell membrane of the bacterium. The two fracture faces of the cell membrane are markedly different. The cytoplasmic (PF) face is covered with densely packed particles averaging 8 nm in diameter, while the exoplasmic (EF) face contains far fewer particles, averaging approximately 10 nm in diameter. Although a few differentiated regions were noted within these fracture faces, the overall appearance of the cell membrane was remarkably uniform. The Heliobacterium chlorum cell wall is a strikingly regular structure, composed of repeating subunits arranged in a rectangular pattern at a spacing of 11 nm in either direction. We have isolated cell wall fragments by brief sonication in distilled water, and visualized the cell wall structure by negative staining as well as deep-etching.

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Bacteria Cell Membrane Freeze Etching Freeze Fracturing Microscopy, Electron Photosynthesis Journal Article Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

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K R Miller, J S Jacob, U Smith, S Kolaczkowski, M K Bowman. 1986. Heliobacterium chlorum: cell organization and structure.. https://doi.org/10.1007/bf00402335

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