Ultrastructural changes in the myxamoebae of Physarum polycephalum in response to a microcyst-inducing concentration of mannitol

1984 ◽  
Vol 62 (2) ◽  
pp. 272-280 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lynda M. Williams ◽  
Jean-G. Lafontaine

The response of axenically cultured Physarum polycephalum myxamoebae to a microcyst-inducing concentration of mannitol (0.5 M) has been studied for both log-phase and maximum-concentration cultures. Results indicate that mannitol alone is not sufficient to induce encystment; a population effect is also necessary. Myxamoebae may continue to divide in the presence of mannitol if this effect is absent. Early ultrastructural changes have been noted indicating that the primary mode of action of mannitol is via the change in osmotic potential of the medium. Nuclear and cytoplasmic ultrastructural changes during the encystment process are documented. Recovery of log-phase cells to undergo mitosis involves definite morphological changes, which are also described. Ruthenium red staining was utilised to emphasize changes in the cell coat and indicate possible sites of accumulation of cell wall material.

2014 ◽  
Vol 69 (2) ◽  
pp. 93-100 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sława Glińska ◽  
Barbara Gabara

Ultrastructure of meristematic cells of garlic (<em>Allium sativum</em> L.) roots treated with sodium selenate and sodium selenite was assessed using transmission electron microscopy. Both selenium compounds applied at the concentrations: 80, 160 and 320 µM caused many malformations in the ultrastructure of mitochondria, plastids, endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi apparatus such as deformation in shape and size, disturbances in inner membranes organization, appearance of concentric or parallel arrangement of ER cisternae. Moreover, in the presence of selenium, beside uneven thickening of cell wall, many vacuoles of different dimensions filled with wall-like material even in the vicinity of nucleus were visible. The latter results suggest that selenium not only intensified the synthesis of cell wall material but also inhibited the process of cell wall material deposition. The similarity of all observed ultrastructural changes in garlic root cells after selenium treatment with those appearing after action of other stress factors are discussed.


2018 ◽  
Vol 15 (8) ◽  
pp. 513
Author(s):  
Ewen Silvester ◽  
Annaleise R. Klein ◽  
Kerry L. Whitworth ◽  
Ljiljana Puskar ◽  
Mark J. Tobin

Environmental contextSphagnum moss is a widespread species in peatlands globally and responsible for a large fraction of carbon storage in these systems. We used synchrotron infrared microspectroscopy to characterise the acid-base properties of Sphagnum moss and the conditions under which calcium uptake can occur (essential for plant tissue integrity). The work allows a chemical model for Sphagnum distribution in the landscape to be proposed. AbstractSphagnum is one the major moss types responsible for the deposition of organic soils in peatland systems. The cell walls of this moss have a high proportion of carboxylated polysaccharides (polygalacturonic acids), which act as ion exchangers and are likely to be important for the structural integrity of the cell walls. We used synchrotron light source infrared microspectroscopy to characterise the acid-base and calcium complexation properties of the cell walls of Sphagnum cristatum stems, using freshly sectioned tissue confined in a flowing liquid cell with both normal water and D2O media. The Fourier transform infrared spectra of acid and base forms are consistent with those expected for protonated and deprotonated aliphatic carboxylic acids (such as uronic acids). Spectral deconvolution shows that the dominant aliphatic carboxylic groups in this material behave as a monoprotic acid (pKa=4.97–6.04). The cell wall material shows a high affinity for calcium, with a binding constant (K) in the range 103.9–104.7 (1:1 complex). The chemical complexation model developed here allows for the prediction of the chemical environment (e.g. pH, ionic content) under which Ca2+ uptake can occur, and provides an improved understanding for the observed distribution of Sphagnum in the landscape.


1986 ◽  
Vol 62 (6) ◽  
pp. 1703-1712 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. G. Jung ◽  
K. P. Vogel

Weed Science ◽  
1968 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
pp. 344-347 ◽  
Author(s):  
Walter E. Splittstoesser

Barley (Hordeum vulgareL. var. Trail) root growth was inhibited at lower concentrations of 1-(2-methylcyclohexyl)-3-phenylurea (siduron) than was shoot growth. The influence of siduron upon root metabolism was assessed with excised roots grown in 0 or 5 ppm siduron. More glucose-U-14C and leucine-U-14C were degraded to CO2and less were incorporated into cell wall material and protein by roots grown in siduron. However, roots grown in siduron incorporated more adenine-8-14C into nucleic acids and degraded less adenine to CO2than roots grown in water. It was suggested that siduron disrupted the normal nucleic acid metabolism of barley roots which was necessary for protein and cell wall synthesis.


Microscopy ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 69 (5) ◽  
pp. 286-290
Author(s):  
Takamichi Kamigaki ◽  
Akihiro Ogawa

Abstract Some species of lactic acid bacteria used for the production of natural cheese produce exopolysaccharides (EPS). Electron microscopy is useful for analyzing the microstructure of EPS produced by lactic acid bacteria. However, pretreatments used to observe the microstructure of EPS by electron microscopy, such as dehydration and resin embedding, can result in EPS flowing out easily from the cell. Therefore, in this study, the Tokuyasu method was conducted on cryosection to reduce EPS outflow. Two types of observation method, namely, using lectin and ruthenium red, were conducted in an attempt to observe EPS produced by Lactobacillus helveticus SBT2171. Observation using the lectin method confirmed that colloidal gold particles conjugated with a lectin recognizing β-galactoside were present in the capsule. Structures that appeared to be β-galactoside-containing slime polysaccharides that were released from the cell wall were also observed. Observation using ruthenium red showed that capsular polysaccharides (CPS) in the capsule were present as a net-like structure. Colloidal gold conjugation with an anti-β-lactoglobulin antibody, in addition to ruthenium red staining, allowed the identification of slime polysaccharides released from the cell wall in the milk protein network derived from the culture medium. Based on these results, the Tokuyasu method was considered to be a useful pretreatment method to clarify and observe the presence of EPS. In particular, both CPS in the capsule and slime exopolysaccharides released from the cell wall were visualized.


2021 ◽  
Vol 289 ◽  
pp. 110304 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eden Eran Nagar ◽  
Liora Berenshtein ◽  
Inbal Hanuka Katz ◽  
Uri Lesmes ◽  
Zoya Okun ◽  
...  

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document