title: Three-dimensional reconstruction of a pathogenic yeast Exophiala dermatitidis cell by freeze-substitution and serial sectioning electron microscopy.
abstract: The structure of a budding cell of the pathogenic yeast Exophiala dermatitidis was observed in three dimensions after freeze-substitution, serial ultrathin sectioning and computer reconstruction. The nucleus occupied about 10% of the cell volume. The spindle pole body was composed of two disk elements connected by an intervening midpiece, and occupied about 0.01% of the cell volume. The cell wall consisted of an inner transparent layer, a middle electron-opaque layer, and an outer fibrous layer. The mitochondria occupied about 10% of the cell volume. There were numerous mitochondria in the mother cell and the bud, but no 'giant mitochondrion' was seen. The ratio of mitochondrial volume within the bud to the mitochondrial volume of the cell was close to the ratio of bud:cell cytoplasmic volume. The results emphasize the importance of good cryofixation for 'perfect' preservation of yeast cell structure.
authors.affiliation: Research Center for Pathogenic Fungi and Microbial Toxicoses, Chiba University, 1-8-1 Inohana, Chuo-ku, 260-8673, Chiba, Japan. yamaguch@myco.pf.chiba-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Masashi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yamaguchi
authors.forename: Sondip Kumar
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Biswas
authors.forename: Yasuyo
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Suzuki
authors.forename: Hiromitsu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Furukawa
authors.forename: Kanji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Takeo
mesh_terms: D005093:Exophiala / Q000472:pathogenicity / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D017110:Freeze Substitution / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D008854:Microscopy, Electron / Q000379:methods; D008867:Microtomy / Q000379:methods*