F. Franz et G. Acker, ULTRASTRUCTURAL LOCATION OF PROTEINS IN RHIZOMORPHS AND MANTLES OF NATURAL SPRUCE ECTOMYCORRHIZAE, Nova Hedwigia, 61(3-4), 1995, pp. 367-376
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.