The size and number of intramembrane particles in cells of the photosynthetic bacterium Rhodopseudomonas capsulata studied by freeze-fracture electron microscopy

Abstract

By freeze-fracture electron microscopy, particles have been observed on the protoplasmic leaflet (PF face) of cytoplasmic and intracytoplasmic membranes of the photosynthetic bacterium Rhodopseudomonas capsulata. The particles are present under all culture conditions of chemotrophically and phototrophically grown cells. However, the number of particles per microM2 increased significantly when the formation of the photosynthetic apparatus in the membrane is induced. Intracytoplasmic membranes, where the bulk of photosynthetic activity is localized, always have a higher density of particles than cytoplasmic membranes. Under all conditions particles with a diameter of 9.5 nm dominate. The frequency of particles with diameters greater or smaller than 9.5 nm changed with culture conditions. A comparison of biochemical and electron microscopic data have lead us to the conclusion that the particles, formed under conditions which allow the synthesis of the photosynthetic apparatus, are composed of photochemical reaction centers and antenna light-harvesting bacteriochlorophyll I (B 875)-protein complexes. The total molecular weight of these particles is calculated to be 500,000.