Summary
Envelopes of the euglenoid flagellate,Trachelomonas lefevrei may range in color from hyaline to golden to dark brown and may be variously ornamented with spines, papillae and puncta. Elemental composition affects both envelope color and microarchitecture, which may be granular and/or microcrystalline. TEM-EDS microanalyses of granular envelopes or regions show Fe as the predominant element, whereas Mn is the predominant element in envelopes or regions with high concentrations of needle-like microcrystallites. In envelopes composed of both structural components, there is a spatial segregation of Fe and Mn that corresponds to the distribution of the granular and/or microcrystalline entities. Extraction of the needle-like components with leucoberbelin blue indicates that they are Mn oxides. Quantitative elemental analyses show shifting ratios of Mn: Fe that correlate with envelope color and microarchitecture. This is the first direct demonstration both of such a spatial segregation of elements and of the presence of Mn oxides in envelopes ofTrachelomonas.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Chandler, J. A., 1977: X-ray Microanalysis in the Electron Microscope. In: Practical Methods in Electron Microscopy (Glauert, A. M., ed.), pp. 317–547, Amsterdam-New York-Oxford: North-Holland Publishing Co.
Deflandre, G., 1926: Monographie du genreTrachelomonas Ehrenberg. Rev. Gen. Bot.39, 73–98.
Donnelly, L. S., 1979: Comparative cellular ultrastructure and chemical characterization of envelopes of three species ofTrachelomonas (Euglenophyta). Ph.D. Dissertation, University of Tennessee, Knoxville. 194 pp.
—,Walne, P. L., 1979: Comparative ultrastructure of three species ofTrachelomonas (Euglenophyceae). ASB Bulletin26, 46.
Dunlap, J. R., Kivic, P. A., Walne, P. L., 1981a: Comparative ultrastructure and STEM-EDS analysis of envelopes ofTrachelomonas lefevrei andStrombomonas conspersa (Euglenophyceae). J. Phycol.17 (Suppl.), 15.
—,West, L. K., Walne, P. L., Bentley, J., 1981b: Spatial segregation of manganese and iron in the envelope ofTrachelomonas lefevrei (Euglenophyceae). ASB Bulletin28, 48.
Fritsch, F. E., 1935: The structure and reproduction of the algae, Vol. 1, 791 pp. Cambridge: University Press.
Ghiorse, W. C., Hirsch, P., 1979: An ultrastructural study of iron and manganese deposition associated with extracellular polymers of Pedomicrobium-like budding bacteria. Arch. Microbiol.123, 213–226.
Hall, T. A., Gupta, B. L., 1979: EDS quantitation and applications to biology. In: Introduction to Analytical Electron Microscopy (Hern, J. J., Goldstein, J. I., Joy, D. C., eds.), pp. 169–197. New York: Plenum Publishing Corporation.
Klebs, G., 1883: Über die Organisation einiger Flagellatengruppen. Unters. bot. Inst. Tübingen1, 233–262.
Krumbein, W. E., Altmann, H. J., 1973: A new method for the detection and enumeration of manganese oxidizing and reducing microorganisms. Helgoland. wiss. Meeresunters.25, 347–356.
Leedale, G. F., 1975: Envelope formation and structure in the euglenoid genusTrachelomonas. Brit. phycol. J.10, 17–41.
Moss, M. O., Gibbs, G., 1979: A comparison of the levels of manganese and iron in the test ofTrachelomonas Ehrenb. in Surrey Rivers. Brit. phycol. J.14, 255–262.
Parker, B. C., Diboli, A. G., 1966: Alcian stains for histochemical localization of acid and sulfated polysaccharides in algae. Phycologia6, 37–46.
Pringsheim, E. G., 1953: Observations on some species ofTrachelomonas grown in culture. New Phytol.52, 93–113.
Smith, G. M., 1950: The fresh-water algae of the United States, 716 p. New York: McGraw-Hill.
Spurr, A. R., 1969: A low viscosity epoxy resin embedding medium for electron microscopy. J. Ultrastruct. Res.26, 31–43.
van Veen, W. L., Mulder, E. G., Deinema, M. H., 1978: TheSphaerotilus-Leptothrix Group of Bacteria. Microbiol. Rev.42, 329–356.
Walne, P. L.,Gerard, D. A.,Dunlap, J. R.,West, L. K., 1981: Lorica development and elemental composition in the unicellular flagellatesTrachelomonas (Euglenoidina) andPteromonas (Phytomonadina). Proceedings of the VI International Congress of Protozoology, Warsaw, Poland, p. 385.
West, L. K., 1977: Cellular organization and biomineralization of the envelope ofTrachelomonas hispida var.coronata. Ph. D. Dissertation. University of Tennessee, Knoxville, 245 pp.
—,Walne, P. L., 1977: Manganese biomineralization in cell envelopes ofTrachelomonas (Euglenophyceae). J. Cell Biol.75, 409 a.
— —, 1980:Trachelomonas hispida var.coronata (Euglenophyceae). II. Envelope substructure. J. Phycol.16, 498–506.
— —,Bentley, J., 1980:Trachelomonas hispida var.coronata. III. Envelope elemental composition and mineralization. J. Phycol.16, 582–591.
Zaluzec, N. J., 1979: Quantitative X-ray microanalysis: Instrumental considerations and applications to material science. In: Introduction to Analytical Electron Microscopy (Hren, J. J., Goldstein, J. I., Joy, D. C., eds.), pp. 121–167. New York: Plenum Publishing Corporation.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Dunlap, J.R., Walne, P.L. & Bentley, J. Microarchitecture and elemental spatial segregation of envelopes ofTrachelomonas lefevrei (Euglenophyceae) . Protoplasma 117, 97–106 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01288348
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01288348