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. 1978 Aug;135(2):641–646. doi: 10.1128/jb.135.2.641-646.1978

Ultrastructural and physiological changes occurring upon germination and outgrowth of Azotobacter vinelandii cysts.

L P Lin, S Pankratz, H L Sadoff
PMCID: PMC222425  PMID: 681284

Abstract

Dormant cysts of Azotobacter vinelandii germinated at 30 degrees C in Burk nitrogen-free media containing 1% glucose. Samples taken at intervals and examined by electron microscopy revealed that as germination progressed, vesicle-like and fibrillar structures became visible in the intine region. Lamellae associated with the cell membrane appeared in the central body at 6 h post-initiation of germination. Both electron micrographic and chemical analysis showed that the poly-beta-hydroxybutyrate content of cysts decreased significantly after 4 h of germination. Dormant cysts were resistant to sonic oscillation, but this property was lost during their conversion to metabolically active vegetative cells.

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Selected References

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