VIABILITY OF LYOPHILIZED ALGAE

Numerous species of blue-green, green, and yellow-green algae, isolated from various habitats in Wisconsin and in the Antarctic, were tested for their ability to survive freeze-drying. Most of the species from the Antarctic survived, whereas many of the species from Wisconsin did not survive the lyophilization procedure. Addition of organic adjuvants to the algal suspensions resulted in greater survival for most of the green algae, but had little or no effect on survival of blue-green algae. Three different methods of drying frozen algal samples are described.

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Improved staining of extracellular polymer surrounding Eucapsis sp. and Anabena cylindrica: a comparative study

Canadian Journal of Microbiology ◽

10.1139/m74-111 ◽

1974 ◽

Vol 20 (5) ◽

pp. 735-738

Author(s):

Gerald D. Cagle

Keyword(s):

Electron Microscope ◽

Comparative Study ◽

Green Algae ◽

Freeze Drying ◽

Ruthenium Red ◽

Blue Green Algae ◽

Modified Method ◽

Ruthenium Red Staining ◽

Extracellular Polymer

Extracellular polymer surrounding two blue-green algae, Eucapsis sp. (No. 1519) and Anabena cylindrica Lemm. (No. 629), was examined with the electron microscope. Conventional glutaraldehyde–OsO4 fixation, freeze-drying before fixation, and two ruthenium red staining procedures (Luft's method and the modified method of Cagle et al.) were used. The data obtained indicate that observation of extracellular polymer is successively enhanced over conventional fixation when (i) freeze-drying, (ii) Luft's ruthenium red method, and (iii) the modified method of Cagle et al. are used. Each of the methods was also observed to improve cytological detail, particularly in A. cylindrica.

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Endolithic Blue-Green Algae in the Dry Valleys: Primary Producers in the Antarctic Desert Ecosystem

Science ◽

10.1126/science.193.4259.1247 ◽

1976 ◽

Vol 193 (4259) ◽

pp. 1247-1249 ◽

Cited By ~ 223

Author(s):

E. I. FRIEDMANN ◽

R. OCAMPO

Keyword(s):

Green Algae ◽

Desert Ecosystem ◽

Dry Valleys ◽

Primary Producers ◽

Blue Green Algae ◽

The Antarctic

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FREEZE-DRYING OF BLUE-GREEN ALGAE FOR ELECTRON MICROSCOPE STUDIES1

Journal of Phycology ◽

10.1111/j.1529-8817.1967.tb04652.x ◽

1967 ◽

Vol 3 (4) ◽

pp. 161-165 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Tom D. Rogers ◽

Vernon E. Scholes ◽

Harold E. Schlichting

Keyword(s):

Electron Microscope ◽

Green Algae ◽

Freeze Drying ◽

Blue Green Algae

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Freeze-Fracture Replication in the Ultrastructure of Blue-Green Algae

Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America ◽

10.1017/s0424820100060386 ◽

1967 ◽

Vol 25 ◽

pp. 74-75

Author(s):

L. V. Leak

Keyword(s):

Cell Wall ◽

Electron Microscope ◽

Green Algae ◽

Three Dimensional ◽

Freeze Fracture ◽

Electron Microscopic ◽

Photosynthetic Membranes ◽

Blue Green Algae ◽

Cell Biol ◽

Cellular Components

Electron microscopic observations of freeze-fracture replicas of Anabaena cells obtained by the procedures described by Bullivant and Ames (J. Cell Biol., 1966) indicate that the frozen cells are fractured in many different planes. This fracturing or cleaving along various planes allows one to gain a three dimensional relation of the cellular components as a result of such a manipulation. When replicas that are obtained by the freeze-fracture method are observed in the electron microscope, cross fractures of the cell wall and membranes that comprise the photosynthetic lamellae are apparent as demonstrated in Figures 1 & 2.A large portion of the Anabaena cell is composed of undulating layers of cytoplasm that are bounded by unit membranes that comprise the photosynthetic membranes. The adjoining layers of cytoplasm are closely apposed to each other to form the photosynthetic lamellae. Occassionally the adjacent layers of cytoplasm are separated by an interspace that may vary in widths of up to several 100 mu to form intralamellar vesicles.

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