Ultrastructure of Polyangium cellulosum.

Polyangium cellulosum was examined with the transmission electron microscope and the scanning electron microscope. Freeze-fracturing and critical-point-drying techniques were employed with the latter instrument. Critical-point drying seemed to eliminate the distortion of cells and fruiting bodies. These instruments and techniques allowed for a detailed comparison of cell and fruiting-body ultrastructure. Lipid storage materials and mesosomes were found to be constant cell particulates in both vegetative cells and in the shortened myxospores.