Abstract
The flagellum of the obligate chemolithotrophThiobacillus thiooxidans was found to retain its integrity and function under environmental conditions that characterize it as among the most stable of alloplasmatic structures. Although a simple, presumably unsheathed organelle approximately 17 mµ in diameter, it is operationally active at a hydrogen ion concentration measured as low as pH 0.6. It was found to resist 1 hr exposures at 37 C to 6m urea, 10m acetamide, 1n H2SO4, 2°o trypsin, and heating to 70 C for 45 min at pH 5.0. It was, however, destroyed after 1 hr in 10n H2SO4 at room temperature. In addition, the flagellum can be synthesized at pH 1.1, but only in the presence of sulfur. The synthesis requires a longer time than in chemoorganotrophic cubacteria.
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