Summary
Primary aldehyde fixation in the presence of Ca2+ and Mg2+ followed by alkaline Pb2+ staining leads to electron microscopical visualization of lead precipitates in the yeastKluyveromyces marxianus. These lead precipitates are found in vacuoles, cytoplasm, and on the outside of the plasma membrane in the periplasmic and inner cell wall regions.
X-ray microanalysis shows that the precipitates contain high amounts of Pb and P. The amount of precipitated material appeared to correlate with the cellular polyphosphate content. When Ca2+ and Mg2+ are omitted from the primary fixative no peripheral Pb/P deposits are observed. In a subsequent washing step a small amount of long chain polyphosphate is liberated. It is concluded that this method leads to visualization of cellular polyphosphate, including a fraction localized outside the plasma membrane ofKluyveromyces marxianus.
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Tijssen, J.P.F., van Steveninck, J. & de Bruijn, W.C. Cytochemical staining of a yeast polyphosphate fraction, localized outside the plasma membrane. Protoplasma 125, 124–128 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01297357
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01297357