Cytological aspects of resistance to potassium tellurite conferred on Pseudomonas cells by plasmids.

The ultrastructure of strains Pseudomonas putida BS228 and Pseudomonas aeruginosa ML4262 harboring plasmids pBS10, pBS31, and pBS221, which determine resistance to potassium tellurite, was studied. Bacteria were grown in media containing increasing concentrations of potassium tellurite. Crystalline structures containing tellurium appeared in their periplasmic space. The dynamics of crystal growth was studied. Crystals were released into the medium by pinching off of the outer membrane vesicles containing growing crystals. A possible mechanism of this process was described; cytobiochemical peculiarities were discussed.