Metachromatic Granules of Microorganisms

Structures Containing Polyphosphate in Micrococcus lysodeikticus

“…Other major components of the particulate fraction were protein, lipids, and small amounts of as yet unidentified carbohydrate, RNA, and metals. This composition is qualitatively similar to that described for metachromatic granules in other microorganisms (12,29,33). Widra (33), in a detailed study employing cytochemical and enzymatic treatments of whole cells of A. aerogenes and Corynebacterium xerose, estimated that the components of volutin granules are polyP, lipoprotein, RNA, and magnesium.…”

“…(i) Insoluble salts of polyP may form with polyvalent cations. These cations may also serve as a bridge between polyP and protein, RNA, or phospholipids (33). In the present case, it could be calculated that the cations in the particles neutralize only 60% of the negative charges of the polyP present; thus, sufficient amounts of anions are available for other types of electrostatic interactions.…”

X-ray microanalysis of electron-dense bodies in Cladosporium resinae

“…In investigations to characterise these granules a number of components other than phosphorus have been reported to be present. In Aerobacter aerogenes they have been reported to consist of phosphorus, magnesium, lipid and RNA [13]. Isolated polyphosphate bodies from Tetrahymena pyriformis contain calcium magnesium pyrophosphate [14].…”

Microbial Ecology of Activated Sludge

“…The isolates were studied by methods based on those described in the Manual of Microbiological Methods (Society of American Bacteriologists, 1957). Flagella were stained by Bailey's method; lipid inclusions were examined by Burdon's technique as well as that of Widra (1959). Sugar tests were done in PPYE broth containing 1 % sugar + 0.004 % bromocresol purple and in the oxidative-fermentative medium of Hugh and Leifson (1953).…”