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A Molecular Morphology of Euglena gracilis var. bacillaris *
Author(s) -
WOLKEN JEROME J.
Publication year - 1956
Publication title -
the journal of protozoology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.067
H-Index - 77
eISSN - 1550-7408
pISSN - 0022-3921
DOI - 10.1111/j.1550-7408.1956.tb02459.x
Subject(s) - euglena gracilis , chloroplast , flagellum , biophysics , darkness , electron microscope , biology , botany , morphology (biology) , euglena , chlorophyll , photosynthesis , chemistry , optics , biochemistry , physics , bacteria , genetics , gene
SUMMARY. The structural morphology of Euglena gracilis , particularly the photoreceptors, has been studied by electron microscopy in order to arrive at some structural basis for function. The chloroplast, eye‐spot, and flagella are described and their relationship within the cell discussed. A molecular model for both the chloroplast and eye‐spot are proposed from the available structural and experimental data. The effects of darkness, elevated temperatures, metal depletion, and streptomycin on the cells and structure of the chloroplast are described. In all cases where structural changes occur in the chloroplast they are accompanied by spectral shifts in the absorption spectra of chlorophyll indicative of the appearance of pheophytin. The relationship of the eye‐spot and flagella was considered as a structural unit and the energy for excitation was roughly estimated.