Prokaryotic-eukaryotic cell junctions between spiral-shaped bacteria and cecal epithelium of the guinea pig.
Scanning electron microscopy demonstrated that the cecum of the guinea-pig is colonized by numerous spiral-shaped bacteria; these microorganisms, which adhere to mucosa at one end, were found exclusively on the brush border of the surface epithelium. The membranes of sectioned bacteria have a set of electron-dense bands girdling the tip adhered to epithelium. Freeze-fracture replicas of the bacteria revealed the prokaryote-eukaryote junction as a set of ridges on the P-face of outer membrane; the numerous particles of E-face were arranged in parallel rows; on the other hand, the apical plasma membrane and subjacent cytoplasm of epithelium occupied by the spiral-shaped bacteria did not show a structural counterpart. Observations suggest that one end of the spiral-shaped bacteria possesses specialized membrane components that permit specific attachment to the apical surface of epithelial cells.
Mora-Galindo
J
J
División de Biología del Desarrollo, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Guadalajara.
D000818:Animals; D001419:Bacteria / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D001422:Bacterial Adhesion; D018407:Bacterial Physiological Phenomena; D002432:Cecum / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000648:ultrastructure; D004848:Epithelium / Q000382:microbiology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005614:Freeze Fracturing; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D007365:Intercellular Junctions / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D008871:Microvilli / Q000648:ultrastructure