Skip to main content
Journal of Bacteriology logoLink to Journal of Bacteriology
. 1975 May;122(2):691–694. doi: 10.1128/jb.122.2.691-694.1975

Structural similarity of the membrane envelopes of rhizobial bacteroids and the host plasma membrane as revealed by freeze-fracturing.

J C Tu
PMCID: PMC246108  PMID: 1168633

Abstract

The freeze-fracture technique was used to study the host plasma membrane and the membrane envelope of bacteroids in rhizobial root nodules of three host-rhizobium combinations. In all three combinations studied, the membrane envelopes of bacteroids are structurally similar to their host plasma membrane. However, the membrane appears to be reversed, because the number and arrangement of particles in the outer fractured face (face A, concave) and in the inner fractured face (face B, convex) of the host plasma membrane are seen, respectively, in the inner fractured face (face B, convex) and in the outer fractured face (face A, concave) of the membrane envelope of the bacteroids at an early stage. This reversion of the membrane surface is consistent with the hypothesis that the membrane envelopes of bacteroids are derived from the host plasma membrane during endocytotic engulfment.

Full text

PDF
691

Images in this article

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. BERGERSEN F. J., BRIGGS M. J. Studies on the bacterial component of soybean root nodules: cytology and organization in the host tissue. J Gen Microbiol. 1958 Dec;19(3):482–490. doi: 10.1099/00221287-19-3-482. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Dixon R. O. Rhizobia (with particular reference to relationships with host plants). Annu Rev Microbiol. 1969;23:137–158. doi: 10.1146/annurev.mi.23.100169.001033. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. FOTHERGILL P. G., CHILD J. H. COMPARATIVE STUDIES OF THE MINERAL NUTRITION OF THREE SPECIES OF PHYTOPHTHORA. J Gen Microbiol. 1964 Jul;36:49–66. doi: 10.1099/00221287-36-1-49. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Goodchild D. J., Bergersen F. J. Electron microscopy of the infection and subsequent development of soybean nodule cells. J Bacteriol. 1966 Jul;92(1):204–213. doi: 10.1128/jb.92.1.204-213.1966. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. JORDAN D. C., GRINYER I., COULTER W. H. ELECTRON MICROSCOPY OF INFECTION THREADS AND BACTERIA IN YOUNG ROOT NODULES OF MEDICAGO SATIVA. J Bacteriol. 1963 Jul;86:125–137. doi: 10.1128/jb.86.1.125-137.1963. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Jordan D. C., Coulter W. H. On the cytology and synthetic capacities of natural and artificially produced bacteroids of Rhizobium leguminosarum. Can J Microbiol. 1965 Aug;11(4):709–720. doi: 10.1139/m65-094. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Jordan D. C., Grinyer I. Electron microscopy of the bacteroids and root nodules of Lupinus luteus. Can J Microbiol. 1965 Aug;11(4):721–725. doi: 10.1139/m65-095. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. MacKenzie C. R., Vail W. J., Jordan D. C. Ultrastructure of free-living and nitrogen-fixing forms of Rhizobium meliloti as revealed by freeze-etching. J Bacteriol. 1973 Jan;113(1):387–393. doi: 10.1128/jb.113.1.387-393.1973. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Moor H. Recent progress in the freeze-etching technique. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci. 1971 May 27;261(837):121–131. doi: 10.1098/rstb.1971.0042. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. Prasad D. N., De D. N. Ultrastructure of release of Rhizobium and formation of membrane envelope in root nodule. Microbios. 1971 Jul;4(13):13–20. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. Tu J. C. Relationship between the membrane envelope of rhizobial bacteroids and the plasma membrane of the host cell as demonstrated by histochemical localization of adenyl cyclase. J Bacteriol. 1974 Sep;119(3):986–991. doi: 10.1128/jb.119.3.986-991.1974. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Journal of Bacteriology are provided here courtesy of American Society for Microbiology (ASM)

RESOURCES