Intracytoplasmic membrane structures in Vibrio marinus.

An electron microscope study of Vibrio marinus strains MP-1, an obligate psychrophile, and PS-207, a moderate psychrophile, revealed numerous intracellular membranous structures. The structures were found to occur more frequently in V. marinus strain MP-1 than in strain PS-207. The frequency of occurrence and complexity of structure were related to age of the culture. In early logarithmic phase, cells revealed invaginations of the plasma membrane. More complex membrane forms, found in late logarithmic and stationary phase, were either myelin-like sheaths, for which the term "myelemma" is proposed, or membranes randomly arranged throughout the cells. The complex membrane forms were not observed to be directly connected with the plasma membrane. However, they were often found in approximation to the plasma membrane or associated with vacuoles and circular membrane profiles. Individual membranes were of a tripartite structure and of dimensions similar to the cell wall and plasma membrane.