Abstract
THE gas vesicles which make up the gas vacuoles of blue–green algae collapse flat on application of a few atmospheres pressure1 and this frustrates attempts to isolate them intact by methods of cell rupture and centrifugation used in obtaining preparations of other subcellular organelles2. We describe here a novel method of lysing blue–green algal cells, the isolation of their intact gas vesicles and a preliminary investigation into the composition of the gas vesicle membrane.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bowen, C. C., and Jensen, T., Science, 147, 1460 (1965).
Larsen, J., Omang, S., and Steensland, H., Arch. Mikrobiol., 59, 197 (1967).
Walsby, A. E., Proc. Roy. Soc., B, 173, 235 (1969).
Walsby, A. E., and Eichelberger, H. H., Arch. Mikrobiol., 60, 76 (1968).
Stoeckenius, W., and Kunau, W. H., J. Cell Biol., 38, 337 (1968).
Klebahn, H., Jb. Wiss. Bot., 61, 535 (1922).
Waaland, J. R., and Branton, D., Science, 163, 1339 (1969).
Jost, M., and Matile, P., Arch. Mikrobiol., 53, 50 (1966).
Cohen-Bazire, G., Kunisawa, R., and Pfennig, N., J. Bact. (in the press).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
WALSBY, A., BUCKLAND, B. Isolation and Purification of Intact Gas Vesicles from a Blue–Green Alga. Nature 224, 716–717 (1969). https://doi.org/10.1038/224716a0
Received:
Revised:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/224716a0
- Springer Nature Limited
This article is cited by
-
Use of cyanobacterial gas vesicles as oxygen carriers in cell culture
Cytotechnology (2007)
-
A square bacterium
Nature (1980)
-
Isolation and characterization of gas vesicles from Microcyclus aquaticus
Archives of Microbiology (1977)
-
Chemical composition of gas vesicles isolated from Anabaena flos-aquae
Archiv f�r Mikrobiologie (1972)
-
The concentric bodies of lichenized fungi
Archiv f�r Mikrobiologie (1972)