ELECTRON MICROSCOPY OF RHODOTORULA GLUTINIS

Abstract

The structure and manner of nuclear division in Rhodotorula glutinis was studied by electron microscopy of ultrathin sections. Parallel studies with the light microscope, employing conventional staining techniques and phase-contrast microscope observations on nuclei in living cells, were carried out. The nucleus is spherical to oval and is bounded by a nuclear membrane. Intranuclear structures, identified as nucleoli, and electron-transparent areas were observed. The nuclear membrane persists throughout the various stages of cell division. Observations of the nucleus with the electron microscope revealed that nuclear division occurs by a process of elongation and constriction similar to that seen in both living and stained cells. The fine structure of mitochondria and other components of the yeast cell and their behavior during cell division are described. The absence of vacuoles in actively dividing cells of Rhodotorula glutinis lends further support to the view that the vacuole is not an integral part of the nucleus. The results with the electron microscope generally support and considerably extend those obtained with living and stained cells.