ISSN:
1432-072X
Keywords:
Algal taxonomy
;
Cyanelles
;
Diaminopimelic acid
;
Endosymbiotic association
;
Endosymbiotic cyanobacteria
;
Glaucocystis
;
Peptidoglycan
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Biology
Notes:
Abstract Glaucocystis nostochinearum is a eukaryotic organism with “chloroplasts” that have usually been assumed to be “cyanelles” — i.e., endosymbiotic cyanobacteria. Previous attempts by others to support this assumption by demonstrating the presence of a limiting peptidoglycan envelope have been unsuccessful. In the present study disruption of intact Glaucocystis cells with a glass tissue homogenizer permitted the isolation of the uniquely-shaped cyanelles. That these cyanelles were lunited by a peptidoglycan-containing envelope was concluted from the following evidence: (1) stability of isolated cyanelles in distilled water as determined by the preservation of their intactness and peculiar asymmetrical shape; (2) lysozyme sensitivity as demonstrated by lysis of isolated cyanelles when treated with low concentrations of lysozyme; (3) inhibition of the lysozyme-mediated lysis by N-acetyl-glucosamine-2, a known competitive inhibitor of lysozyme, (4) visualization of a thin, electron dense layer between the two limiting membranes around the cyanelle, and (5) isolation and identification of the peptidoglycan-specific amino acid, diaminopimelic acid, from the cyanelles.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00401987
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