Differences in the architecture of cytoplasmic and intracytoplasmic membranes of three chemotrophically and phototrophically grown species of the Rhodospirillaceae.

Abstract

Freeze-fracture faces of membranes of either chemotrophically or phototrophically grown Rhodospirillum rubrum, Rhodopseudomonas sphaeroides, and Rhodospirillum tenue were analyzed. All three species differed from each other with respect to size as well as numerical density (number per square micrometer) of intramembrane particles. In R. rubrum the number of particles on exoplasmic fracture faces of the cytoplasmic membrane stayed nearly constant (about 900 particles per microns2), but on the plasmic fracture face there were 4,700 and 6,264 particles per microns2, respectively, under chemotrophic and phototrophic conditions. The increase in number was largely a result of an enhanced occurrence of particles 10 nm in diameter. This diameter corresponds to the mean diameter of the predominant class of particles visible on the plasmic fracture faces of intracytoplasmic membrane formed under phototrophic conditions. In R. sphaeroides the number of particles on both of the fracture faces of cytoplasmic membranes stayed nearly constant. The mean diameter of articles appeared to be slightly increased under phototrophic conditions. Particles of cytoplasmic and intracytoplasmic membranes of phototrophically grown cells were of similar diameter. The number of particles, however, on plasmic fracture faces of intracytoplasmic membranes (6,674/microns2) was significantly higher than that on cytoplasmic membranes (5,708/microns2). R. tenue, on the other hand, which does not produce intracytoplasmic membranes, showed on exoplasmic fracture faces 543 and 3,765 particles per micron2 under chemotrophic and phototrophic conditions, respectively, whereas the corresponding numerical densities of plasmic fracture faces were 4,043 and 3,711 particles per microns2. The increased number of articles on exoplasmic fracture faces was mainly the result of an increased occurrence of particles with diameters greater than or equal to 10 nm. The results are interpreted to allow for the different modes of intractyoplasmic membrane development in Rhodospirillum rubrum and Rhodopseudomonas sphaeroides, respectively.