Skip to main content
PMC home page
Journal of Bacteriology logoLink to Journal of Bacteriology
. 1973 Jul;115(1):349–357. doi: 10.1128/jb.115.1.349-357.1973

Demonstration of Ribosomes in Mesosomes Associated with Bacillus subtilis Protoplasts

Audria Matheson 1, Maria Kwong Yang 1, Richard P Smith 1
PMCID: PMC246249  PMID: 4123915

Abstract

The physiological differences between Bacillus subtilis (ATCC 6633) cells derived from a glucose-salts-yeast extract (GSY) medium and those of cells from tryptose broth permitted the identification of variables in protoplasting environments which noticeably affected the clarity of mesosomal ribosomes. They were the sucrose and magnesium ion concentrations and the type of buffer used. The environment suitable for conversion of GSY cells to the protoplast state was a 0.02 M tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane-hydrochloride buffer, pH 7.2, containing 0.6 M sucrose and 0.03 M MgCl2. Branched mesosomal tubules and a unique organization of vesicles were detected in thin sections and in negative stains of the specimens. Ribosomes were demonstrable in the extruded structures associated with protoplasts that had been prepared according to four fixation schedules and embedded in either of two epoxy plastics. Adjustments in the fixation schedules improved the clarity of the large bodies of protoplast cytoplasm to a degree equivalent to that of their dangling appendages.

Full text

PDF

Images in this article

352Image
on p.352
353Image
on p.353
354Image
on p.354
356Image
on p.356

Selected References

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

  1. Burdett I. D., Rogers H. J. The structure and development of mesosomes studied in Bacillus licheniformis strain 6346. J Ultrastruct Res. 1972 Jan;38(1):113–133. doi: 10.1016/s0022-5320(72)90087-1. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Ellar D. J., Lundgren D. G., Slepecky R. A. Fine structure of Bacillus megaterium during synchronous growth. J Bacteriol. 1967 Oct;94(4):1189–1205. doi: 10.1128/jb.94.4.1189-1205.1967. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Ghosh B. K., Murray R. G. Fine structure of Listeria monocytogenes in relation to protoplast formation. J Bacteriol. 1967 Jan;93(1):411–426. doi: 10.1128/jb.93.1.411-426.1967. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Ghosh B. K., Sargent M. G., Lampen J. O. Morphological phenomena associated with penicillinase induction and secretion in Bacillus licheniformis. J Bacteriol. 1968 Oct;96(4):1314–1328. doi: 10.1128/jb.96.4.1314-1328.1968. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. KELLENBERGER E., RYTER A., SECHAUD J. Electron microscope study of DNA-containing plasms. II. Vegetative and mature phage DNA as compared with normal bacterial nucleoids in different physiological states. J Biophys Biochem Cytol. 1958 Nov 25;4(6):671–678. doi: 10.1083/jcb.4.6.671. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. LUFT J. H. Improvements in epoxy resin embedding methods. J Biophys Biochem Cytol. 1961 Feb;9:409–414. doi: 10.1083/jcb.9.2.409. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Matheson A., Kwong M. C. Electron-dense particles resembling ribosomes in mesosomes of Bacillus subtilis. J Bacteriol. 1972 May;110(2):747–750. doi: 10.1128/jb.110.2.747-750.1972. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Popkin T. J., Theodore T. S., Cole R. M. Electron microscopy during release and purification of mesosomal vesicles and protoplast membranes from Staphylococcus aureus. J Bacteriol. 1971 Sep;107(3):907–917. doi: 10.1128/jb.107.3.907-917.1971. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. ROBERTS J., JOHNSON M. J. Effect of penicillin on the cell wall of Bacillus subtilis. Biochim Biophys Acta. 1962 May 21;59:458–466. doi: 10.1016/0006-3002(62)90196-8. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. RYTER A., LANDMAN O. E. ELECTRON MICROSCOPE STUDY OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN MESOSOME LOSS AND THE STABLE L STATE (OR PROTOPLAST STATE) IN BACILLUS SUBTILIS. J Bacteriol. 1964 Aug;88:457–467. doi: 10.1128/jb.88.2.457-467.1964. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. Reaveley D. A., Rogers H. J. Some enzymic activities and chemical properties of the mesosomes and cytoplasmic membranes of Bacillus licheniformis 6346. Biochem J. 1969 Jun;113(1):67–79. doi: 10.1042/bj1130067. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. Ryter A., Frehel C., Ferrandes B. Comportement des mésosomes lors de l'attaque de Bacillus subtilis par le lysozyme en milieu hyper- ou hypotonique. C R Acad Sci Hebd Seances Acad Sci D. 1967 Oct 23;265(17):1259–1262. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. Ryter A., Jacob F. Etude morphologique de la liaison du noyau à la membrane chez E. coli et chez les protoplastes de B. subtilis. Ann Inst Pasteur (Paris) 1966 Jun;110(6):801–812. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

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

RESOURCES