title: Identification of structures containing polyphosphate in Helicobacter pylori.
abstract: For the first time polyphosphate (poly P) granules have been detected in Helicobacter pylori organisms colonizing the gastric antrum as well as in organisms isolated from the same tissue. Poly P granules showed typical sublimation characteristics during exposure to the electron beam and chipped out of ultrathin sectioning. A prominent phosphorus signal was identified using elemental specific electron microscopy such as electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS) and was localized to at least three different locations: the cytoplasm, the flagellar pole and in association with the cell membrane. Intracytoplasmatic structures had a diameter of 0.05-0.2 micron, whereas the structures near the flagellar pole were much smaller (0.02 micron). The membrane-associated phosphate aggregates were visible only after staining with Pb(NO3)2 or with electron spectroscopic imaging (ESI). Poly P granules seem to be important energy and phosphorus stores and it is thought that they participate in the regulation of various and distinct metabolic processes of H. pylori.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine I, University of Ulm, Germany.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bode
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mauch
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ditschuneit
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Malfertheiner
mesh_terms: D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D003594:Cytoplasmic Granules / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D004734:Energy Metabolism; D005407:Flagella / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006801:Humans; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D011122:Polyphosphates / Q000378:metabolism*; D011706:Pyloric Antrum / Q000382:microbiology
chemical_list: D011122:Polyphosphates