Biomaterial Database

Immunocytochemical ultrastructural analysis of chromatophore membrane formation in Rhodospirillum rubrum. 1986

S M Crook, and S B Treml, and M L Collins

An immunocytochemical ultrastructural study of Rhodospirillum rubrum cultured under semiaerobic conditions was conducted to correlate the localization of functional components with membrane formation. R. rubrum is a facultatively phototrophic organism. Under reduced oxygen, this bacterium forms an intracytoplasmic chromatophore membrane that is the site of the photosynthetic apparatus. Immunogold techniques were used to localize intracellular protein antigens associated with the photosynthetic apparatus. Antibody, demonstrated by immunoblotting to be specific for the reaction center and light-harvesting photochemical components, was conjugated to colloidal gold particles and used for direct immunolabeling of fixed, sectioned specimens. Membrane invaginations appeared by 4 h after transition to induction conditions, and mature chromatophore membrane was abundant by 22 h. The occurrence of chromatophore membrane was correlated with bacteriochlorophyll a content and the density of the immunolabel. In uninduced (aerobic) cells and those obtained from cultures 0.5 h posttransition, the immunogold preferentially labeled the peripheral area of the cell. In contrast, in cells obtained after 22 h of induction, the central region of the cell was preferentially immunolabeled. These findings provided immunocytochemical evidence supporting the hypothesis that the chromatophore membrane is formed by invagination of the cytoplasmic membrane.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007425	Intracellular Membranes	Thin structures that encapsulate subcellular structures or ORGANELLES in EUKARYOTIC CELLS. They include a variety of membranes associated with the CELL NUCLEUS; the MITOCHONDRIA; the GOLGI APPARATUS; the ENDOPLASMIC RETICULUM; LYSOSOMES; PLASTIDS; and VACUOLES.	Membranes, Intracellular,Intracellular Membrane,Membrane, Intracellular
D008854	Microscopy, Electron	Microscopy using an electron beam, instead of light, to visualize the sample, thereby allowing much greater magnification. The interactions of ELECTRONS with specimens are used to provide information about the fine structure of that specimen. In TRANSMISSION ELECTRON MICROSCOPY the reactions of the electrons that are transmitted through the specimen are imaged. In SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPY an electron beam falls at a non-normal angle on the specimen and the image is derived from the reactions occurring above the plane of the specimen.	Electron Microscopy
D002462	Cell Membrane	The lipid- and protein-containing, selectively permeable membrane that surrounds the cytoplasm in prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells.	Plasma Membrane,Cytoplasmic Membrane,Cell Membranes,Cytoplasmic Membranes,Membrane, Cell,Membrane, Cytoplasmic,Membrane, Plasma,Membranes, Cell,Membranes, Cytoplasmic,Membranes, Plasma,Plasma Membranes
D006651	Histocytochemistry	Study of intracellular distribution of chemicals, reaction sites, enzymes, etc., by means of staining reactions, radioactive isotope uptake, selective metal distribution in electron microscopy, or other methods.	Cytochemistry
D000332	Aerobiosis	Life or metabolic reactions occurring in an environment containing oxygen.	Aerobioses
D001426	Bacterial Proteins	Proteins found in any species of bacterium.	Bacterial Gene Products,Bacterial Gene Proteins,Gene Products, Bacterial,Bacterial Gene Product,Bacterial Gene Protein,Bacterial Protein,Gene Product, Bacterial,Gene Protein, Bacterial,Gene Proteins, Bacterial,Protein, Bacterial,Proteins, Bacterial
D001429	Bacteriochlorophylls	Pyrrole containing pigments found in photosynthetic bacteria.	Bacteriochlorophyll
D012247	Rhodospirillum rubrum	Vibrio- to spiral-shaped phototrophic bacteria found in stagnant water and mud exposed to light.
D045322	Photosynthetic Reaction Center Complex Proteins	Protein complexes that take part in the process of PHOTOSYNTHESIS. They are located within the THYLAKOID MEMBRANES of plant CHLOROPLASTS and a variety of structures in more primitive organisms. There are two major complexes involved in the photosynthetic process called PHOTOSYSTEM I and PHOTOSYSTEM II.	Photosynthetic Complex,Photosynthetic Reaction Center,Photosynthetic Reaction Center Complex Protein,Photosynthetic Complexes,Photosynthetic Reaction Centers,Center, Photosynthetic Reaction,Complex, Photosynthetic,Complexes, Photosynthetic,Reaction Center, Photosynthetic,Reaction Centers, Photosynthetic
D045342	Light-Harvesting Protein Complexes	Complexes containing CHLOROPHYLL and other photosensitive molecules. They serve to capture energy in the form of PHOTONS and are generally found as components of the PHOTOSYSTEM I PROTEIN COMPLEX or the PHOTOSYSTEM II PROTEIN COMPLEX.	Antenna Complexes, Light-Harvesting,Light-Harvesting Antenna Complexes,Light-Harvesting Chlorophyll Protein,Light-Harvesting Chlorophyll Protein Complexes,Antenna Complexes, Light Harvesting,Chlorophyll Protein, Light-Harvesting,Complexes, Light-Harvesting Antenna,Complexes, Light-Harvesting Protein,Light Harvesting Antenna Complexes,Light Harvesting Chlorophyll Protein,Light Harvesting Chlorophyll Protein Complexes,Light Harvesting Protein Complexes,Protein Complexes, Light-Harvesting