FATE OF THE MESOSOMES OF BACILLUS MEGATERIUM DURING PROTOPLASTING

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Published on: November 30, 2017

P FITZ-JAMES

    Journal of Bacteriology
    |June 1, 1964
    PubMed

    Insights

    Mesosomes in Bacillus megaterium extrude as vesicles during protoplasting. Subsequent lysozyme digestion disperses these mesosome remnants, sometimes leaving peripheral membrane structures in the resulting protoplasts.

    Area of Science:

    • Microbiology
    • Cell Biology
    • Bacterial Ultrastructure

    Background:

    • Mesosomes are internal membrane structures in bacteria.
    • Their formation and fate during cell wall lysis are not fully understood.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To investigate the fate of mesosomes in Bacillus megaterium during the process of protoplasting.
    • To characterize the morphological changes of mesosomes during cell lysis.

    Main Methods:

    • Treatment of Bacillus megaterium with sucrose buffer before protoplasting.
    • Lysozyme digestion to induce protoplast formation.
    • Phase microscopy and thin-section electron microscopy for observation.

    Main Results:

    • Mesosomes were extruded as vesicles into the wall-membrane interspace prior to protoplast formation.
    • Lysozyme digestion dispersed mesosome remnants.
    • Glucose addition resulted in more persistent mesosomes, observed as granules or protoplast tags.
    • Thin sections revealed dispersed aggregates of vesicles and wall-like material; protoplasts were generally free of internal mesosomes but could show peripheral membrane structures.

    Conclusions:

    • Mesosomes are extruded and dispersed during Bacillus megaterium protoplasting.
    • Protoplast formation involves significant changes in mesosome morphology and localization.
    • Membrane remnants associated with mesosomes can persist on the periphery of protoplasts.
    Keywords:
    BACILLUS MEGATERIUMCELL DIVISIONCELL MEMBRANECYTOPLASMIC GRANULESEXPERIMENTAL LAB STUDYGLUCOSEMURAMIDASEORGANOIDSPEPTONESPHARMACOLOGY

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