This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Reprints and Permissions Copyright Information Books from ASM Press MicrobeWorld Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Samsonoff, W. A. Articles by Conti, S. F. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Samsonoff, W. A. Articles by Conti, S. F.

 Previous Article  |  Next Article 

J Bacteriol. 1971 April; 106(1): 269-275
Copyright © 1971 American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Appendage Development in Clostridium bifermentans

^a Departments of Microbiology and Botany, Thomas Hunt Morgan School of Biological Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40506

ABSTRACT

The appendages of Clostridium bifermentans UK-A 1003 spores were shown to originate from a substance located just exterior to the outer forespore membrane. The dense spore coat develops along the periphery of this material, and, as the appendages develop in the cytoplasm, the coalescing spore coat intervenes between the appendages and their origin. Freeze etching revealed that the appendages are in the form of distinct fibers in proximity to the mature spore body. These fibers form a network around the spore, seemingly encasing it and insuring that the appendages remain attached to the mature, free spore. The inner wall of each appendage tubule is lined with fibers whereas the outer surface is smooth. The developing exosporium contained several layers consisting of small (3 nm) globular subunits; the outer exosporial surface is composed of relatively unstructured material.

¹ Present address: Department of Microbiology, Stritch Medical School, Loyola University of Chicago, Maywood, Ill. 60153.