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Ultrastructural studies on the membrane systems and cell inclusions of the filamentous prochlorophyte Prochlorothrix hollandica

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Abstract

The outer membrane of Prochlorothrix hollandica is covered with a network of fine fibrils on its surface and separated from the cytoplasmic membrane by an electrondense peptidoglycan layer (8 to 20 nm thick). The thylakoid membranes are arranged in stacked and unstacked regions which present four characteristic fracture faces with different numbers and sizes of intramembrane particles. Cell inclusions such as polyhedral bodies (carboxysomes), ribosomes, and polyphosphate granules were found in Prochlorothrix hollandica. Another type of cell inclusions was identified by its characteristic shape (a cylindre with conical caps) and a regular striation as gas vesicles. It is concluded that the organism is in its morphological structure similar to the cyanobacteria.

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Abbreviations

C:

carboxysome

CM:

cytoplasmic membrane

EFs, EFu :

exoplasmic fracture face of stacked and unstacked membrane area, respectively

ES:

exoplasmic surface

PFs, PFu :

plasmic fracture face of stacked and unstacked membrane area, respectively

PG:

peptidoglycan layer

TM:

thylakoid membrane

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institut für Biologie II, Mikrobiologie, Albert-Ludwigs-Universität, Schänzlestrasse 1, D-7800, Freiburg i. Br., Federal Republic of Germany

    Jochen R. Golecki & Uwe J. Jürgens

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  1. Jochen R. Golecki
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  2. Uwe J. Jürgens
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Dedicated to Prof. Dr. D. Peters, Hamburg, on the occasion of his 75th birthday

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Golecki, J.R., Jürgens, U.J. Ultrastructural studies on the membrane systems and cell inclusions of the filamentous prochlorophyte Prochlorothrix hollandica . Arch. Microbiol. 152, 77–82 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00447015

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00447015

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