Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®
Articles 1 - 1 of 1
Full-Text Articles in Physics
Intercellular Structure In A Many-Celled Magnetotactic Prokaryote, Frank G. Rodgers, Richard P. Blakemore, Nancy A. Blakemore, Richard B. Frankel, Dennis A. Bazylinski, Denise Maratea, Christine Rodgers
Intercellular Structure In A Many-Celled Magnetotactic Prokaryote, Frank G. Rodgers, Richard P. Blakemore, Nancy A. Blakemore, Richard B. Frankel, Dennis A. Bazylinski, Denise Maratea, Christine Rodgers
Physics
A many-called magnetotactic prokaryote obtained from brackish water was observed to possess intercellular connections at points of contact between the outer membranes of constituent cells. Each aggregate organism consisted of 10 to 30 individual Gram-negative cells containing material with the appearance of poly-β-hydroxybutyrate and magnetosomes of unusual arrangement, structure and composition. The aggregate, which possessed prokaryotic-type flagella arranged at the outwards surfaces of each cell, showed motility indicative of co-ordination between individual component cells. These results suggest that this organism could be a multicellular prokaryote.