Elektronenoptische und chemische Untersuchungen an Zellwänden der Blaualge Phormidium uncinatum

1962 ◽  
Vol 17 (4) ◽  
pp. 262-268 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Frank ◽  
Marcelle Lefort ◽  
H. H. Martin
Keyword(s):  
Cell Wall ◽  
Cell Walls ◽  
Quantitative Chemical Analysis ◽  
Cell Wall Component ◽  
Thin Sections ◽  
Blue Green Algae ◽  
Phormidium Uncinatum ◽  
Localized Defects ◽  
Isolated Cell ◽  
Supporting Membrane

Quantitative chemical analysis of isolated cell walls of Phormidium uncinatum demonstrated the presence of a mucopolymer component resembling in composition that found in the cell walls of gramnegative bacteria. Electronmicroscopical investigations showed that each cell of a filament of Phormidium is lined with a mucopolymer supporting membrane, which is responsible for the rigidity of the cell wall and which can be digested by lysozyme.Growing filaments of Phormidium, exposed to penicillin, produce well recognizable localized defects in the mucopolymer layer of their cell walls and in the corresponding layers of septa still growing. These defects appear to indicate regions of growth.Electronmicroscopical examination of thin sections of intact filaments extend and confirm the morphological observations on isolated cell walls.The demonstration in blue-green algae of a mucopolymer cell wall component closely resembling that previously found in cell walls of bacteria provides further evidence for a taxonomic relationship between the two classes of organisms.

Fine Structure and Radiation Resistance in Acinetobacter: Studies on a Resistant Strain

1968 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 273-294
Author(s):  
MARGARET J. THORNLEY ◽  
AUDREY M. GLAUERT
Keyword(s):  
Cell Wall ◽  
Fine Structure ◽  
Radiation Resistance ◽  
Cell Walls ◽  
Proteolytic Enzymes ◽  
Gram Negative Bacteria ◽  
Intact Cells ◽  
Thin Sections ◽  
Gram Negative ◽  
Isolated Cell

An electron-microscope study of thin sections and negatively stained preparations of intact cells and isolated cell walls of a bacterium which is moderately resistant to ionizing radiation, Acinetobacter strain 199A, showed that it is similar to other Gram-negative bacteria except for its mode of division and for the fine structure of some of the surface layers. During division the cells form a fairly thick septum similar to those observed in Gram-positive bacteria. An examination of the appearance and chemical composition of isolated cell walls before and after treatment with enzymes, detergents and lipid solvents revealed that three layers, each with a characteristic fine structure, are present in the cell wall: (1) an outer membrane with an array of peg-like subunits; (2) a layer of wrinkled material which is digested by proteolytic enzymes; and (3) a smooth, rigid layer, which contains the mucopeptide components of the cell wall. These observations are compared with the results of other workers for various Gram-negative bacteria. From comparisons with the structure of more radiation-sensitive strains of Acinetobacter, it appears that layer (2) may be associated with the radiation resistance of the organism.

Ultrastructural changes in the conidia of Penicillium notatum during germination

1973 ◽  
Vol 19 (7) ◽  
pp. 797-801 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. F. Martin ◽  
F. Uruburu ◽  
J. R. Villanueva
Keyword(s):  
Cell Wall ◽  
Cell Walls ◽  
Ultrastructural Changes ◽  
Dense Layer ◽  
Penicillium Notatum ◽  
Thin Sections ◽  
Resting Spores ◽  
Different Types ◽  
Germ Tubes ◽  
Isolated Cell

To study the changes in the cell wall of Penicillium notatum during germination, thin sections of resting, swollen, and germinating spores, and mycelium were compared with thin sections of the isolated cell walls. In the cell wall of resting spores four distinct layers were found. The outermost layer of the cell wall of resting spores was released during swelling and the two inner layers were extended to form the cell wall of the germ tube. The cell wall of young germ tubes had only two layers but a new electron-dense layer was formed later on the outside. Mycelial cell walls which appeared thinner than those of conidia showed three distinct layers. Large mitochondria that divide during germination were present in both resting and swollen spores. Two different types of vacuoles were found, both of which decreased in size and in number during germination. Endoplasmic reticulum was almost absent in resting spores but increased substantially during swelling.

scholarly journals FINE STRUCTURE OF THE GRAM-NEGATIVE BACTERIUM ACETOBACTER SUBOXYDANS

1964 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
pp. 217-233 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. W. Claus ◽  
L. E. Roth
Keyword(s):  
Cell Wall ◽  
Plasma Membrane ◽  
Cell Walls ◽  
Negative Staining ◽  
Homogeneous Layer ◽  
Physical Treatment ◽  
Thin Sections ◽  
Gram Negative ◽  
Acetobacter Suboxydans ◽  
Negative Cell

The morphological features of the cell wall, plasma membrane, protoplasmic constituents, and flagella of Acetobacter suboxydans (ATCC 621) were studied by thin sectioning and negative staining. Thin sections of the cell wall demonstrate an outer membrane and an inner, more homogeneous layer. These observations are consistent with those of isolated, gram-negative cell-wall ghosts and the chemical analyses of gram-negative cell walls. Certain functional attributes of the cell-wall inner layer and the structural comparisons of gram-negative and gram-positive cell walls are considered. The plasma membrane is similar in appearance to the membrane of the cell wall and is occasionally found to be folded into the cytoplasm. Certain features of the protoplasm are described and discussed, including the diffuse states of the chromatinic material that appear to be correlated with the length of the cell and a polar differentiation in the area of expected flagellar attachment. Although the flagella appear hollow in thin sections, negative staining of isolated flagella does not substantiate this finding. Severe physical treatment occasionally produces a localized penetration into the central region of the flagellum, the diameter of which is much smaller then that expected from sections. A possible explanation of this apparent discrepancy is discussed.

scholarly journals STUDIES ON BACTERIOPHAGES OF HEMOLYTIC STREPTOCOCCI

1957 ◽  
Vol 106 (3) ◽  
pp. 365-384 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard M. Krause
Keyword(s):  
Cell Wall ◽  
Hyaluronic Acid ◽  
Cell Walls ◽  
Receptor Site ◽  
Surface Proteins ◽  
Phage Antibody ◽  
Group A ◽  
Phage Receptor ◽  
Hyaluronic Acid Capsule ◽  
Isolated Cell

The host ranges of bacteriophages for group A, types 1, 6, 12, and 25 and group C streptococci have been determined. The findings indicate that the susceptibility to these phages is primarily a group-specific phenomenon, although it is modified by several factors such as the hyaluronic acid capsule, lysogeny, and possibly the presence of surface proteins. Phage antibody studies indicate that while the group A phages are antigenically related, they are distinct from the group C phage. This is in agreement with the observation that group A phages are not specific for their homologous streptococcal types. The purified group C carbohydrate inactivates group C phage but not the group A phages, thus suggesting that the carbohydrate, a component of the cell wall, may serve as the phage receptor site. It has not been possible to inactivate the group A phages with group A carbohydrate. Phage lysis of groups A and C streptococci is accompanied by fragmentation of the cell wall since the C carbohydrate has been identified serologically and chemically in the supernate of centrifuged lysates. The immediate lysis of groups A and C hemolytic streptococci and their isolated cell walls by an accesory heat-labile lytic factor in fresh group C lysates is also described.

scholarly journals Ionic Relations of Cells of Ohara Australis I. Ion Exchange in the Cell Wall

1959 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 395 ◽  
Author(s):  
J Dainty ◽  
AB Hope
Keyword(s):  
Cell Wall ◽  
Ion Exchange ◽  
Free Space ◽  
Cell Walls ◽  
Plant Cells ◽  
External Solution ◽  
Exchangeable Cations ◽  
Intact Cells ◽  
Donnan Free Space ◽  
Isolated Cell

Measurements of ion exchange were made between isolated cell walls of Ohara australis and an external solution. Comparison between intact cells and cell walls showed that nearly all the easily exchangeable cations are located in the cell wall. The wall is hown to consist of "water free space" (W.F.S.) and "Donnan free space" (D.F.S.); the concentration of in diffusible anions in the D.F.S. is about O� 6 equivjl. This finding is contrary to past suggestions that the D.F.S. is in the cytoplasm of plant cells.

A relationship between cell wall composition and mutant morphology in the basidiomycete Schizophyllum commune

1968 ◽  
Vol 14 (7) ◽  
pp. 809-811 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chiu-Sheng Wang ◽  
Marvin N. Schwalb ◽  
Philip G. Miles
Keyword(s):  
Cell Wall ◽  
Cell Walls ◽  
Single Gene ◽  
Schizophyllum Commune ◽  
Gene Mutations ◽  
Cell Wall Composition ◽  
Statistical Analyses ◽  
Morphological Mutants ◽  
Mutant Forms ◽  
Isolated Cell

Mechanically isolated cell walls of normal homokaryons and the morphological mutants thin and puff were fractionated and hydrolyzed by chemical procedures. The yields of fractionated materials and the glucose/hexosamine ratios of acid hydrolysates were determined. Results of statistical analyses of the values obtained from these determinations indicated that single-gene mutations causing the thin and puff mutant forms of this fungus produce specific differences in the composition of cell walls.

LYSOZYME SENSITIVITY OF THE CELL WALL OF PSEUDO-MONAS AERUGINOSA: FURTHER EVIDENCE FOR THE ROLE OF THE NON-PEPTIDOGLYCAN COMPONENTS IN CELL WALL RIGIDITY

1966 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 105-108 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Jane Carson ◽  
R. G. Eagon
Keyword(s):  
Pseudomonas Aeruginosa ◽  
Cell Wall ◽  
Electron Micrographs ◽  
Cell Walls ◽  
Gram Negative Bacteria ◽  
Normal Cells ◽  
Thin Sections ◽  
Gram Negative ◽  
Cell Wall Rigidity

Electron micrographs of thin sections of normal cells of Pseudomonas aeruginosa showed the cell walls to be convoluted and to be composed of two distinct layers. Electron micrographs of thin sections of lysozyme-treated cells of P. aeruginosa showed (a) that the cell walls lost much of their convoluted nature; (b) that the layers of the cell walls became diffuse and less distinct; and (c) that the cell walls became separated from the protoplasts over extensive cellular areas. These results suggest that the peptidoglycan component of the unaltered cell walls of P. aeruginosa is sensitive to lysozyme. Furthermore, it appears that the peptidoglycan component is not solely responsible for the rigidity of the cell walls of Gram-negative bacteria.

scholarly journals Differences in cell wall of thin and thick filaments of cyanobacterium Aphanizomenon gracile SAG 31.79 and their implications for different resistance to Daphnia grazing

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lukasz Wejnerowski ◽  
Slawek Cerbin ◽  
Maria K. Wojciechowicz ◽  
Marcin K. Dziuba
Keyword(s):  
Cell Wall ◽  
Wall Thickness ◽  
Cell Walls ◽  
Cell Wall Thickness ◽  
Filamentous Cyanobacterium ◽  
Thin Sections ◽  
Thick Filaments ◽  
Transmission Electron ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Aphanizomenon Gracile

<p>Recent studies have shown that the filamentous cyanobacterium <em>Aphanizomenon gracile</em> Lemmermann, strain SAG 31.79, consists of two types of filaments that differ in thickness. These two types are known to vary in resistance to <em>Daphnia</em> <em>magna</em> grazing: thin filaments (&lt;2.5 µm) are more vulnerable to grazing than the thick ones (&gt;2.5 µm). In this study, we investigated whether the difference in the vulnerability to grazing of thin and thick filaments is a result of different thickness of their cell walls, a filament stiffness determinant. We expected thick filaments to have thicker cell walls than the thin ones. Additionally, we analysed whether cell wall thickness correlates with filament thickness regardless of the filament type. A morphometric analysis of cell walls was performed using transmission electron micrographs of ultra-thin sections of the batch-cultured cyanobacterial material.  Our study revealed that the thin type of filaments had thinner cell walls than the thick filaments. Moreover, cell wall thickness was positively correlated with filament thickness. TEM (transmission electron microscopy) observations also revealed that the thin type of filaments was often at different stages of autocatalytic cell destruction, which was mainly manifested in the increase in cell vacuolization and degradation of the cytoplasm content. Based on our findings, we assume that previously reported higher resistance of thick filaments to <em>Daphnia</em> grazing results from greater stiffness and excellent physiological conditions of thick filaments. </p>

scholarly journals STUDIES OF L FORMS AND PROTOPLASTS OF GROUP A STREPTOCOCCI

1959 ◽  
Vol 110 (6) ◽  
pp. 853-874 ◽  
Author(s):  
Earl H. Freimer ◽  
Richard M. Krause ◽  
Maclyn McCarty
Keyword(s):  
Cell Wall ◽  
Cell Walls ◽  
M Protein ◽  
Group A Streptococci ◽  
Group A ◽  
Isolated Cell ◽  
Streptococcal Strain

L forms of Group A streptococci have been isolated by the use of penicillin gradient agar plates. Osmotically fragile protoplasts of Group A streptococci have been obtained by the use of Group C phage-associated lysin which lyses Group A streptococci and their isolated cell walls. Membranes surrounding these enzymatically derived protoplasts have been isolated, and chemical and immunological studies indicate that they are free of cell wall carbohydrate and M protein. The streptococcal protoplasts reproduce as colonies which are morphologically indistinguishable from streptococcal L forms. Evidence is presented to show that these two streptococcal derivatives are serologically and physiologically related to each other as well as to the parent streptococcal strain from which they were isolated.

THE EFFECT OF PENICILLIN ON THE STRUCTURE OF STAPHYLOCOCCAL CELL WALLS

1959 ◽  
Vol 5 (6) ◽  
pp. 641-648 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. G. E. Murray ◽  
W. H. Francombe ◽  
B. H. Mayall
Keyword(s):  
Cell Wall ◽  
Cell Walls ◽  
Untreated Control ◽  
Osmium Tetroxide ◽  
Wall Material ◽  
Cell Wall Material ◽  
Cell Wall Synthesis ◽  
Cell Wall Component ◽  
A Cell ◽  
Resistant Strains

Cultures of sensitive stains of Staphylococcus aureus were fixed with osmium tetroxide after 1–5 hours' exposure to various does of pencillin and were embedded in methacrylate for sectioning and electron microscopy. They were compared with untreated, control cultures. The contrast of the cell wall material was untreated, control cultures. The contrast of the cell wall material was increased, by cutting the section of lanthanum nitrate.The cells increased in size and the surrounding cell wall was thinner than normal. The main lesions appeared in the developing cell wall septa, which showed a loss in density and gross irregularity of shape. Some questionable inclusions were seen in the cytoplasm. Lysis was prevented in a medium containing 0.3 M sucrose and the stable spheroplasts retained a recognizable cell wall after 24 hours' exposure to penicillin. However, the septa could not be demonstrated in the cells treated in sucrose medium.Two resistant strains were exposed to penicillin. In one, the cells showed no morphological effects; in the other, there was temporary damage to the cell septa with complete recovery.The observations support the hypothesis that penicillin interferes with the synthesis of a cell wall component and indicate that the main point of cell wall synthesis is at the site of septum formation.

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