Abstract
Crystalline arrays of particles found in freeze-fracture replicas of the yeast plasma membrane have been used extensively as a test specimen for investigating artifacts that can occur during the freeze fracture process. No information has yet been obtained about the particles themselves from electron microscopic techniques other than freeze fracture. The current model of the paracrystals consists of three intramembranous particles arranged in a hexagonal lattice: 1) a large 100 K particle on the PF, which has a “volcano” appearance in replicas that are uncontaminated by water vapor, 2) a smaller EF particle at the threefold axis of the hexagonal lattice, and 3) an even smaller EF particle which fits into the crater of the PF volcano particle. We have now isolated the crystalline arrays of the yeast plasma membrane for further structural studies by freeze fracture, surface replication, and negative staining, in order to test this current model.
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