Calcofluor staining of cellulose during microcyst differentiation in wild-type and mutant strains of Polysphondylium pallidum.
Calcofluor White ST was used to monitor the morphological events in the biogenesis of cellulose in the microcyst wall of the wild-type strain (WS-320) and two developmental mutants (mic-1 and mic-2) of Polysphondylium pallidum. During encystment, the cell surface acquires a Calcofluor-specific material which appears to be cellulose because of its sensitivity to purified cellulase. Cellulose-containing vesicles appear distributed throughout the cytoplasm of encysting cells of the three strains. Later, the cellulose-rich vesicles appear near the cell surface. Subsequently, the cell surface stains with Calcofluor, and the vesicles are no longer detectable. Intracellular vesicles resembling the cellulose-rich vesicles in size, in the timing of appearance, and in cellular location are also seen in thin sections. These vesicles are surrounded by a single unit membrane, and their amorphous matrix, which contains a dense irregular core, further implicates them as the basis for the bilayered microcyst wall.
D001557:Benzenesulfonates / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002482:Cellulose / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D005658:Fungi / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D007425:Intracellular Membranes / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008858:Microscopy, Phase-Contrast; D008860:Microscopy, Ultraviolet; D009154:Mutation; D009940:Organoids / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D013194:Staining and Labeling / Q000379:methods*; D013499:Surface Properties
D001557:Benzenesulfonates; C007061:C.I. Fluorescent Brightening Agent 28; D002482:Cellulose