Fine structure of Ectothiorhodospira mobilis Pelsh.

The cell wall structure, arrangement of photosynthetic membranes, and the attachment of flagella of Ectothiorhodospira mobilis strain 8112 were examined by using freeze-etching and conventional electron microscopic techniques. The outer coat of the multilayered cell wall is comprised of 50 A repeating subunits, arranged in a regular array. The photosynthetic membranes, which originate from and are attached to the plasma membrane, are arranged in a more complex pattern than previously seen in other bacteria. The tuft of flagella in E. mobilis is inserted into a polar organelle. The relationship of this organelle to the polar membrane and the mechanism of attachment of the flagella to the polar organelle is discussed.