ULTRASTRUCTURAL LOCATION OF PROTEINS IN RHIZOMORPHS AND MANTLES OF NATURAL SPRUCE ECTOMYCORRHIZAE

Six basidiomycete spruce ectomycorrhizae from natural soil samples wer e identified and investigated by electron microscopy. Ultrathin sectio ns through rhizomorphs and mantles were incubated with silver-methenam ine reagent for labelling cystine-containing proteins with metallic si lver particles (Gomori-Swift test). The particle patterns resulting fr om the interaction of cystine with the reagent were examined in a TEM and were interpreted to be markers for the location of cystine-contain ing proteins in rhizomorphal and mantle structures such as fungal cell walls, the interhyphal matrix and chemically and structurally differe nt protein inclusions. Differences and similarities between protein di stribution patterns observed in rhizomorphs and mantles are discussed in connection with the different nutritional roles of the hyphae in th ese specialized organs. The labelling specificity in our experiments w as indicated by the lack of silver particles in control sections which had first been incubated with periodic acid and then with an unspecif ic protease prior the test treatment.