Work

Membrane ultrastructure of alkaliphilic Bacillus species studied by rapid-freeze electron microscopy

Year: 1992

Type: article

Abstract: Cells of Bacillus firmus OF4 and Bacillus alcalophilus were examined by rapid-freeze freeze-fracture and freeze-substitution electron microscopy. No special vesicular structures linked to growth at alkaline pH were found, either within or associated with the cytoplasmic membrane. The cytoplasmic membranes of the alkaliphilic bacilli and the neutrophilic Bacillus subtilis BD99 were indistinguishable. Distinctive intramembrane particle rings, presumed to be flagellar structures on the basis of distribution and morphological characteristics, were found in all of these species. These observations indicate that the adaptations required to effect oxidative phosphorylation and flagellar rotation at extreme alkaline pH occur without gross morphological rearrangement.

Source: Journal of Bacteriology

DOI: 10.1128/jb.174.15.5123-5126.1992

Authors: S Khan, D M Ivey, T A Krulwich

Institution: Albert Einstein College of Medicine

Language: English

Topic: Bacterial Genetics and Biotechnology

Subfield: Genetics

Field: Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology

Domain: Life Sciences

Open Access status: green

Funders: National Institutes of Health, National Institute of General Medical Sciences, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Center for Research Resources