BACTERIA AND NUCLEI IN PELOMYXA PALUSTRIS: COMMENTS ON THE THEORY OF SERIAL ENDOSYMBIOSIS

Abstract

The primitive giant amoeba, Pelomyxa palustris, contains a population of endosymbiotic bacteria. The distinctive ultrastructure of one of the species of bacteria is described in detail. A particularly close relationship exists between these bacteria and the nuclei of Pelomyxa. The significance of some aspects of this relationship is discussed with reference to the endosymbiotic theory of the origin of mitochondria from bacterial precursors. Copyright © 1976, Wiley Blackwell. All rights reserved