THE OCCURRENCE OF POLYPHOSPHATE BODIES IN POLYHEDRAL BODIES (CARBOXYSOMES) IN SYNECHOCOCCUS-LEOPOLIENSIS (CYANOPHYCEAE)

Synechococcus leopoliensis grown under normal conditions possess cytop lasmic polyphosphate bodies (PPB). In addition a small number of polyh edral bodies (carboxysomes) also possess bodies which are morphologica lly similar to cytoplasmic PPB. When cells are grown in the presence o f 0.8 mu M Cd2+ at pH 5.5 for 96 h, 43% of the polyhedral bodies as se en in thin sections have the bodies and 25% show more than one body. T he bodies average 35 nm in diameter. Elemental analysis of the bodies using the spot setting of the scanning transmission mode of the transm ission electron microscope in conjunction with an energy dispersive X- ray spectrometer showed that they contain P and Ca as do cytoplasmic P PB. The possible function of PPB in polyhedral bodies is discussed.