A model for the topology of the chloroplast thylakoid membrane

1999 ◽  
Vol 26 (7) ◽  
pp. 687 ◽  
Author(s):  
Per-Ola Arvidsson ◽  
Cecilia Sundby

A model for the topological organization of the chloroplast thylakoid membrane is presented. A series of illustrations is provided, which outline a suggested 3-dimensional structure in cross-section and in full shape, which accounts both for the folding of one continuous membrane into multiple grana stacks as seen in cross-sectional electron micrographs and for the rapid reversible unfolding (destacking) of the grana stacks into lamellar sheets.

Author(s):  
L. E. Thomas ◽  
L. J. Cuddy

The use of stereo pairs of electron micrographs for quantitative analysis of defect structures offers several advantages over methods which use single micrographs: stereoscopic viewing aids in comprehending complicated 3-dimensional structure. Defect densities can be measured locally, i.e. as a function of depth in the specimen rather than as an average over the foil thickness. The depth definition afforded by 3-dimensional viewing largely eliminates problems of image overlap. The depth dimension can be measured from the micrographs. In this paper, stereo techniques for analyzing dislocation distributions will be discussed along with results obtained using high voltage electron micrographs of very thick foils.Although the practice of electron stereomicroscopy with diffraction contrast images is not yet widespread, the technique is not difficult. Two different views of the same specimen detail are obtained by tilting the specimen between exposures. With diffraction contrast, the operating reflection and Bragg deviation must be kept the same so that any differences in the position and appearance of the defect images is due to the change in viewpoint.


Author(s):  
Robert Glaeser ◽  
Thomas Bauer ◽  
David Grano

In transmission electron microscopy, the 3-dimensional structure of an object is usually obtained in one of two ways. For objects which can be included in one specimen, as for example with elements included in freeze- dried whole mounts and examined with a high voltage microscope, stereo pairs can be obtained which exhibit the 3-D structure of the element. For objects which can not be included in one specimen, the 3-D shape is obtained by reconstruction from serial sections. However, without stereo imagery, only detail which remains constant within the thickness of the section can be used in the reconstruction; consequently, the choice is between a low resolution reconstruction using a few thick sections and a better resolution reconstruction using many thin sections, generally a tedious chore. This paper describes an approach to 3-D reconstruction which uses stereo images of serial thick sections to reconstruct an object including detail which changes within the depth of an individual thick section.


Author(s):  
M. K. Lamvik ◽  
A. V. Crewe

If a molecule or atom of material has molecular weight A, the number density of such units is given by n=Nρ/A, where N is Avogadro's number and ρ is the mass density of the material. The amount of scattering from each unit can be written by assigning an imaginary cross-sectional area σ to each unit. If the current I0 is incident on a thin slice of material of thickness z and the current I remains unscattered, then the scattering cross-section σ is defined by I=IOnσz. For a specimen that is not thin, the definition must be applied to each imaginary thin slice and the result I/I0 =exp(-nσz) is obtained by integrating over the whole thickness. It is useful to separate the variable mass-thickness w=ρz from the other factors to yield I/I0 =exp(-sw), where s=Nσ/A is the scattering cross-section per unit mass.


Author(s):  
A. Engel ◽  
A. Holzenburg ◽  
K. Stauffer ◽  
J. Rosenbusch ◽  
U. Aebi

Reconstitution of solubilized and purified membrane proteins in the presence of phospholipids into vesicles allows their functions to be studied by simple bulk measurements (e.g. diffusion of differently sized solutes) or by conductance measurements after transformation into planar membranes. On the other hand, reconstitution into regular protein-lipid arrays, usually forming at a specific lipid-to-protein ratio, provides the basis for determining the 3-dimensional structure of membrane proteins employing the tools of electron crystallography.To refine reconstitution conditions for reproducibly inducing formation of large and highly ordered protein-lipid membranes that are suitable for both electron crystallography and patch clamping experiments aimed at their functional characterization, we built a flow-dialysis device that allows precise control of temperature and flow-rate (Fig. 1). The flow rate is generated by a peristaltic pump and can be adjusted from 1 to 500 ml/h. The dialysis buffer is brought to a preselected temperature during its travel through a meandering path before it enters the dialysis reservoir. A Z-80 based computer controls a Peltier element allowing the temperature profile to be programmed as function of time.


Author(s):  
D.P. Bazett-Jones ◽  
F.P. Ottensmeyer

It has been shown for some time that it is possible to obtain images of small unstained proteins, with a resolution of approximately 5Å using dark field electron microscopy (1,2). Applying this technique, we have observed a uniformity in size and shape of the 2-dimensional images of pure specimens of fish protamines (salmon, herring (clupeine, Y-l) and rainbow trout (Salmo irideus)). On the basis of these images, a model for the 3-dimensional structure of the fish protamines has been proposed (2).The known amino acid sequences of fish protamines show stretches of positively charged arginines, separated by regions of neutral amino acids (3). The proposed model for protamine structure (2) consists of an irregular, right-handed helix with the segments of adjacent arginines forming the loops of the coil.


Author(s):  
Brian L. Rhoades

A gas reaction chamber has been designed and constructed for the JEM 7A transmission electron microscope which is based on a notably successful design by Hashimoto et. al. but which provides specimen tilting facilities of ± 15° aboutany axis in the plane of the specimen.It has been difficult to provide tilting facilities on environmental chambers for 100 kV microscopes owing to the fundamental lack of available space within the objective lens and the scope of structural investigations possible during dynamic experiments has been limited with previous specimen chambers not possessing this facility.A cross sectional diagram of the specimen chamber is shown in figure 1. The specimen is placed on a platinum ribbon which is mounted on a mica ring of the type shown in figure 2. The ribbon is heated by direct current, and a thermocouple junction spot welded to the section of the ribbon of reduced cross section enables temperature measurement at the point where localised heating occurs.


Author(s):  
D. L. Callahan ◽  
Z. Ball ◽  
H. M. Phillips ◽  
R. Sauerbrey

Ultraviolet laser-irradiation can be used to induce an insulator-to-conductor phase transition on the surface of Kapton polyimide. Such structures have potential applications as resistors or conductors for VLSI applications as well as general utility electrodes. Although the percolative nature of the phase transformation has been well-established, there has been little definitive work on the mechanism or extent of transformation. In particular, there has been considerable debate about whether or not the transition is primarily photothermal in nature, as we propose, or photochemical. In this study, cross-sectional optical microscopy and transmission electron microscopy are utilized to characterize the nature of microstructural changes associated with the laser-induced pyrolysis of polyimide.Laser-modified polyimide samples initially 12 μm thick were prepared in cross-section by standard ultramicrotomy. Resulting contraction in parallel to the film surface has led to distortions in apparent magnification. The scale bars shown are calibrated for the direction normal to the film surface only.


Author(s):  
J. Jakana ◽  
M.F. Schmid ◽  
P. Matsudaira ◽  
W. Chiu

Actin is a protein found in all eukaryotic cells. In its polymerized form, the cells use it for motility, cytokinesis and for cytoskeletal support. An example of this latter class is the actin bundle in the acrosomal process from the Limulus sperm. The different functions actin performs seem to arise from its interaction with the actin binding proteins. A 3-dimensional structure of this macromolecular assembly is essential to provide a structural basis for understanding this interaction in relationship to its development and functions.


Author(s):  
Bridget Carragher ◽  
David A. Bluemke ◽  
Michael J. Potel ◽  
Robert Josephs

We have investigated the feasibility of restoring blurred electron micrographs. Two related problems have been considered; the restoration of images blurred as a result of relative motion between the specimen and the image plane, and the restoration of images which are rotationally blurred about an axis. Micrographs taken while the specimen is drifting result in images which are blurred in the direction of motion. An example of rotational blurring arises in micrographs of thin sections of helical particles viewed in cross section. The twist of the particle within the finite thickness of the section causes the image to appear rotationally blurred about the helical axis. As a result, structural details, particularly at large distances from the helical axis, will be obscured.


2020 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 08-15
Author(s):  
Rahma Triyana ◽  
Salmi Salmi

Malaria is one of the health problems in Indonesia, especially West Sumatra. Determination of the description of Malaria disease in an area is needed to determine the spread and severity of the disease. This study aims to determine the frequency distribution according to age, sex and place of residence, description of the types of Plasmodium causes of Malaria and hematological features in Malaria patients at Siti Rahmah Padang Hospital in 2018. This type of research is a descriptive observational study with an approach or design cross section (cross sectional). The frequency distribution of Malaria sufferers in Siti Rahmah Padang Hospital in 2018 according to the highest age was in the age group 21-30 years as many as 28 cases (36.8%), the highest sex among men was 46 (60.5%) and the highest number of residences was found in Koto Tangah sub-district there were 31 cases (40.8%). The type of Plasmodium found in Malaria cases in Siti Rahmah Padang Hospital in 2018 was P. vivax (73 cases (96.05%)) and P. falciparum (3 cases (3.95%)). The results of laboratory tests on Hb, hematocrit, platelet and leukocyte levels in Malaria positive patients in Siti Rahmah Padang Hospital in 2018 were in the normal range.


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