Electron Microscope Study of Sporulation and Parasporal Crystal Formation in Bacillus thuringiensis
- 31 August 1976
- journal article
- research article
- Published by American Society for Microbiology in Journal of Bacteriology
- Vol. 127 (3), 1472-1481
- https://doi.org/10.1128/jb.127.3.1472-1481.1976
Abstract
A comprehensive ultrastructural analysis of sporulation and parasporal crystal development is described for B. thuringiensis. The insecticidal crystal of B. thuringiensis is initiated at the start of engulfment and is nearly complete by the time the exosporium forms. The crystal and a heretofore unobserved ovoid inclusion develop without any clear association with the forespore septum, exosporium or mesosomes. These observations contradict previous hypotheses that the crystal is synthesized on the forespore membrane, exosporium or mesosomes. Formation of forespore septa involves densely staining, double-membrane-bound, vesicular mesosomes that have a bridged appearance. Forespore engulfment is subpolar and also involves mesosomes. Upon completion of engulfment the following cytoplasmic changes occur: decrease in electron density of the incipient forespore membrane; loss of bridged appearance of incipient forespore membrane; change in stainability of incipient forespore, forespore and mother cell cytoplasms; and alteration in staining quality of plasma membrane. These changes are involved in the conversion of the incipient forespore into a forespore and reflect commitment to sporulation.This publication has 38 references indexed in Scilit:
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