Open AccessThe fine structure of the fibers of Pyrodictium occultum
Author(s) -
König Helmut,
Messner Paul,
Stetter Karl O.
Publication year - 1988
Publication title -
fems microbiology letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.899
H-Index - 151
eISSN - 1574-6968
pISSN - 0378-1097
DOI - 10.1111/j.1574-6968.1988.tb02717.x
Subject(s) - sulfur , thiosulfate , electron microscope , scanning electron microscope , materials science , morphology (biology) , crystallography , membrane , elemental analysis , chemistry , composite material , optics , inorganic chemistry , biology , metallurgy , physics , biochemistry , genetics
Depending on the culture conditions, Pyrodictium occultum cells revealed two different types of fibers with significant differences in their width in the electron microscope. During growth on elemental sulfur preferentially fibres with a diameter of about 23 nm (type I) were produced. When elemental sulfur was substituted by thiosulfate fibers with a diameter of around 15 nm (type II), were the main appendages. Both types form hollow cylinders consisting of helically arranged sub‐units with a wall thickness of 2–3 nm. A triple‐ layered unit membrane could not be found.