Cytoskeleton in the archaebacterium Thermoplasma acidophilum? Viscosity increase in soluble extracts.
Thermoplasma acidophilum has no cell wall, and so its irregular shape implies the presence of a cytoskeleton. When soluble extracts of T. acidophilum were incubated in vitro they increased in viscosity, suggestive of a polymerizable component. Optimal conditions for the viscosity increase coincided with physiological ionic concentrations. Electron micrographs of negatively stained extracts showed a meshlike lattice of elements 10 nm in diameter similar to nuclear lamins. However, immunologically there was no cross-reaction with lamins nor with the other eukaryotic cytoskeletal proteins tested: tubulin, calmodulin, giardin, actin or myosin.
Hixon
W G
WG
Biology Department, University of Massachusetts, Amherst.
Searcy
D G
DG
D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate; D005075:Biological Evolution; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins / Q000302:isolation & purification; D003599:Cytoskeleton / Q000737:chemistry / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D007477:Ions; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D011108:Polymers / Q000302:isolation & purification; D013696:Temperature; D013822:Thermoplasma / Q000737:chemistry / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D014508:Urea; D014783:Viscosity
D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins; D007477:Ions; D011108:Polymers; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate; D014508:Urea