Ultrastructure of a magnetotactic spirillum
10.1128/jb.141.3.1399-1408.1980
Crossref journal-article
American Society for Microbiology
Journal of Bacteriology (235)
Abstract

The ultrastructure of a magnetotactic bacterium (strain MS-1) was examined by transmission, scanning, and scanning-transmission electron microscopy. The organism resembled other spirilla in general cell morphology, although some differences were detected at the ultrastructural level. Electron-dense particles within magnetotactic cells were shown by energy-dispersive X-ray analysis to be localizations containing iron. A non-magnetotactic variant of strain MS-1 lacked these novel bacterial inclusion bodies. A chain of these particles traversed each magnetotactic cell in a specific arrangement that was consistent from cell to cell, seemingly associated with the inner surface of the cytoplasmic membrane. Each particle was surrounded by an electron-dense layer separated from the particle surface by an electron-transparent region. The term "magnetosome" is proposed for the electron-dense particles with their enveloping layer(s) as found in this and other magnetotactic bacteria.

Bibliography

Balkwill, D. L., Maratea, D., & Blakemore, R. P. (1980). Ultrastructure of a magnetotactic spirillum. Journal of Bacteriology, 141(3), 1399–1408.

Authors 3
  1. D L Balkwill (first)
  2. D Maratea (additional)
  3. R P Blakemore (additional)
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Dates
Type When
Created 5 years, 7 months ago (Jan. 3, 2020, 12:01 p.m.)
Deposited 4 years, 1 month ago (July 29, 2021, 1:35 p.m.)
Indexed 1 week, 1 day ago (Aug. 21, 2025, 1:03 p.m.)
Issued 45 years, 5 months ago (March 1, 1980)
Published 45 years, 5 months ago (March 1, 1980)
Published Print 45 years, 5 months ago (March 1, 1980)
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@article{Balkwill_1980, title={Ultrastructure of a magnetotactic spirillum}, volume={141}, ISSN={1098-5530}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.1128/jb.141.3.1399-1408.1980}, DOI={10.1128/jb.141.3.1399-1408.1980}, number={3}, journal={Journal of Bacteriology}, publisher={American Society for Microbiology}, author={Balkwill, D L and Maratea, D and Blakemore, R P}, year={1980}, month=mar, pages={1399–1408} }