Freeze-fracture confirmation of the presence of a core in the specialized tip structure of Mycoplasma pneumoniae. 1983

F Wall, and R M Pfister, and N L Somerson

The presence of a specialized terminal region in Mycoplasma pneumoniae was seen in thin sections viewed in an electron microscope. Actively growing cells were examined by the freeze-fracture technique in the absence of fixation to further establish the core as a significant structural entity. Cross fractures revealed a cytoplasmic matrix surrounding a central core structure of about 54 nm. This structure disappeared rapidly in aging cells. The convex protoplastic faces of the membrane around the core had characteristic 5- to 10-nm intramembrane particles evenly distributed across the cell surface, with no apparent difference in the region of the specialized tip. A periodicity previously noted in negatively stained preparations was clearly defined here in thin sections. Attachment of actively growing cells to sheep erythrocytes was seen primarily as a side attachment rather than attachment at the tip alone. This association between the mycoplasma and the sheep erythrocytes seriously deformed the sheep erythrocytes, but no membrane fusion could be detected.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
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
D009177 Mycoplasma pneumoniae Short filamentous organism of the genus Mycoplasma, which binds firmly to the cells of the respiratory epithelium. It is one of the etiologic agents of non-viral primary atypical pneumonia in man. Eaton Agent
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
D003593 Cytoplasm The part of a cell that contains the CYTOSOL and small structures excluding the CELL NUCLEUS; MITOCHONDRIA; and large VACUOLES. (Glick, Glossary of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 1990) Protoplasm,Cytoplasms,Protoplasms
D004912 Erythrocytes Red blood cells. Mature erythrocytes are non-nucleated, biconcave disks containing HEMOGLOBIN whose function is to transport OXYGEN. Blood Cells, Red,Blood Corpuscles, Red,Red Blood Cells,Red Blood Corpuscles,Blood Cell, Red,Blood Corpuscle, Red,Erythrocyte,Red Blood Cell,Red Blood Corpuscle
D005614 Freeze Fracturing Preparation for electron microscopy of minute replicas of exposed surfaces of the cell which have been ruptured in the frozen state. The specimen is frozen, then cleaved under high vacuum at the same temperature. The exposed surface is shadowed with carbon and platinum and coated with carbon to obtain a carbon replica. Fracturing, Freeze,Fracturings, Freeze,Freeze Fracturings
D000268 Adhesiveness A property of the surface of an object that makes it stick to another surface. Adhesivenesses
D000818 Animals Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA. Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D012756 Sheep Any of the ruminant mammals with curved horns in the genus Ovis, family Bovidae. They possess lachrymal grooves and interdigital glands, which are absent in GOATS. Ovis,Sheep, Dall,Dall Sheep,Ovis dalli

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