ISSN:
1615-6102
Keywords:
Biomineralization
;
Quantitative elemental microanalysis
;
Envelope microarchitecture
;
Iron
;
Manganese
;
Trachelomonas
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Biology
Notes:
Summary Envelopes of the euglenoid flagellate,Trachelomonas lefevrei may range in color from hyaline to golden to dark brown and may be variously ornamented with spines, papillae and puncta. Elemental composition affects both envelope color and microarchitecture, which may be granular and/or microcrystalline. TEM-EDS microanalyses of granular envelopes or regions show Fe as the predominant element, whereas Mn is the predominant element in envelopes or regions with high concentrations of needle-like microcrystallites. In envelopes composed of both structural components, there is a spatial segregation of Fe and Mn that corresponds to the distribution of the granular and/or microcrystalline entities. Extraction of the needle-like components with leucoberbelin blue indicates that they are Mn oxides. Quantitative elemental analyses show shifting ratios of Mn: Fe that correlate with envelope color and microarchitecture. This is the first direct demonstration both of such a spatial segregation of elements and of the presence of Mn oxides in envelopes ofTrachelomonas.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF01288348
Permalink
