Exospore formation in Methylosinus trichosporium

Abstract

Formation of exospores in Methylosinus trichosporium was examined by electron microscopy; serial sectioning was used to visualize the shape and location of the developing exospore in relation to the vegetative cell. The initial stage was the formation of a budlike enlargement on one end of the vegetative cell. The enlargement was surrounded by the exospore capsule, and the cell wall was continuous around both the cell and the developing exospore. A constriction occurred in the area where the budlike structure was attached to the vegetative cell, and the constriction continued to form until the immature exospore was detached from the vegetative cell. The cup-shaped immature exospore was surrounded by the exospore capsule, which appeared to hold the exospore close to the vegetative cell. After separation from the vegetative cell, the immature exospore developed further by forming the exospore wall and by becoming spherical.