ULTRASTRUCTURAL STUDIES ON THE CYANELLES OF GLAUCOCYSTIS NOSTOCHINEARUM ITZIGSOHN1

Abstract

Ultrastructural studies conducted on the intracellular symbiont of Glaucocystis nostochinearum Itz., a unicellular alga with a debated taxonomic position, have shown that the endosymbiont, although somewhat aberrant, is a blue-green algae. Due possibly to its intracellular habitat, it lacks the characteristic cyanophycean double-layered cell wall and the cells appear to be completely naked, bound only by a single plasma membrane. The protoplasm of the cell is differentiated into the lamellated chromatoplasm, which contains the photosynthetic pigments and polyphosphate granules, and a nonlamellar centroplasm, in which the nucleic material is dispersed. The usual cyanophycean organelles, as well as the different vacuoles and granules, with the exception of the formed bodies, are missing. Approximately 10% of the cells shows a peculiar homogeneous area at one tip, the nature of which is unknown. Binary fission of the organism is mentioned. Since this cyanelle has not yet been classified, we name it SKUJAPELTA nuda nov. gen., nov. sp.; and because of its structural peculiarities we find it necessary to create a new family for it, SKUJAPELTACEAE in the order Chroococcales.