Molecular organization of the cell wall and cell-wall crystals from Chlamydomonas eugamatos

The unicellular green alga Chlamydomonas eugamatos is surrounded by a glycoproteinaceous cell wall. Using the quick-freeze deep-etch technique, we analyse the organization of the wall layers in situ, and delineate the structure of the outermost crystalline layer (W6). We also show the structure of the protein monomers, and propose a model for their organization in the crystal that is similar to that deduced for the related Chlorogonium elongatum crystal by image reconstruction analysis. We also show that the C. eugamatos crystal is highly similar to the flagellar collar of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii.