Trichodesmium: Ultrastructure and Protein Localization

Abstract

Colonial morphology, associated organisms, and ultrastructural organization of Trichodesmium thiebautii cells were investigated in detail using light, scanning and transmission electron microscopy. The ultrastructure of Trichodesmium is quite different from that of other cyanobacteria. T.thiebautii can be differentiated from T. erythraeum on the basis of colonial morphology and the subcellular arrangement of inclusions. The main differentiating features are highlighted. A variety of associated organisms were observed in the colonies including two additional cyanobacteria. The presence and distribution of proteins involved in carbon and nitrogen metabolism and their regulation in T. thiebautii are also briefly discussed.