Mobilifilum chasei: morphology and ecology of a spirochete from an intertidal stratified microbial mat community.

Spirochetes were found in the lower anoxiphototrophic layer of a stratified microbial mat (North Pond, Laguna Figueroa, Baja California, Mexico). Ultra-structural analysis of thin sections of field samples revealed spirochetes approximately 0.25 micrometer in diameter with 10 or more periplasmic flagella, leading to the interpretation that these spirochetes bear 10 flagellar insertions on each end. Morphometric study showed these free-living spirochetes greatly resemble certain symbiotic ones, i.e., Borrelia and certain termite spirochetes, the transverse sections of which are presented here. The ultrastructure of this spirochete also resembles Hollandina and Diplocalyx (spirochetes symbiotic in arthropods) more than it does Spirochaeta, the well known genus of mud-dwelling spirochetes. The new spirochete was detected in mat material collected both in 1985 and in 1987. Unique morphology (i.e., conspicuous outer coat of inner membrane, large number of periplasmic flagella) and ecology prompt us to name a new free-living spirochete.

Requirement for G protein activity at a specific time during embryonic chick myogenesis.

Signaling between embryonic myoblasts involves prostaglandin metabolism, the activation of a membrane receptor and changes in polyphosphatidyl inositol metabolism. Many of these membrane-localized events occur between 33 to 35 h of differentiation, concomitant with a dramatic change in membrane organization, in myoblast aggregates in culture. Since many receptors affect inositol phosphate metabolism by activating a GTP-binding protein (G protein), we asked if there was evidence for such a protein in myogenic signaling. We show that during the period of differentiation in culture when prostaglandin is needed to bind to a transient receptor, a pertussis toxin-sensitive but cholera toxin-insensitive G protein must act. If this activation is blocked, the characteristic change in myoblast cell adhesion and subsequent membrane fusion do not occur. We suggest that a G protein couples the activated prostaglandin receptor and the change in polyphosphatidyl inositol metabolism and that this membrane transduction step is necessary for subsequent membrane differentiation events during myogenesis.

Ultrastructural study of the mitochondria in the skeletal muscle fibers in the diabetic Chinese hamster.

An ultrastructural study of skeletal muscle fiber biopsies from the tongue and soleus muscle of diabetic Chinese hamsters revealed the presence of lipid droplets within the muscle fibers. These droplets often were found in the cyptoplasm near mitochondira, sometimes inside or surrounded by one or more mitochondria. Glycogen granules were found in great quantities in the cytoplasm of the tongue and soleus muscle. Granules which appeared to be glycogen were also found within the mitochondria of the tongue muscle.

Isolation and identification of encapsulated strains of Bacteroides fragilis.

One hundred three clinical isolates of Bacteroides fragilis were identified during a two-year period. Most of these isolates were strains of B. fragilis subspecies fragilis, which constitutes a minor component of the fecal flora in comparison with the other subspecies of B. fragilis. By use of several techniques for demonstration of capsules, it was found that only B. fragilis strains classified as subspecies fragilis were encapsulated. An indirect immunofluorescence assay was developed for identification of clinical isolates possessing capsular material that was immunologically similar to that found in the reference strain of B. fragilis subspecies fragilis. All strains examined that were classified as subspecies fragilis were positive in this assay for the capsular material, whereas strains of the other subspecies were negative. This tests represents a rapid and sensitive means of identifying the most prevalent anaerobic gram-negative bacillus involved in human infections. The capsular polysaccharide of B. fragilis subspecies fragilis is a unique factor associated with the predominant subspecies of B. fragilis isolated from clinical material.

Plastid development in albescent maize.

Plastid development in albescent (al/al) and wild-type (+/al) strains of Zea mays has been studied in the electron microscope. Etiolated seedlings of the mutant are severely deficient in colored carotenoid pigments and accumulate carotenoid precursors tentatively identified as phytoene and phytofluene. The fine structure of proplastids in etiolated wild-type and mutant leaves is similar with 1 notable exception. Osmiophilic bodies found in the wild-type were lacking in all sections of albescent proplastids examined suggesting that these structures may be storage centers for carotenoid pigments. Plastid pigments are destroyed, chlorophyll synthesizing potential is lost, and the ultrastructure of plastids is irreversibly altered when mutant seedlings are placed directly in high intensity light. However, synthesis of plastid pigments and development of the photosynthetic apparatus as seen in the electron microscope is normal, and indistinguishable from that in the wild-type, in seedlings of the albescent mutant preilluminated with low intensity light prior to high intensity illumination. During treatment in low intensity light carotenogenesis is initiated in the mutant and proceeds normally thereafter.