FLAGELLAR APPARATUS OF RHODOPSEUDOMONAS PALUSTRIS .2. ORIGIN AND FINE STRUCTURE OF BASAL BODIES OF FLAGELLA

The spherical basal bodies of Rhodopseudomonas palustris flagella probably originate from a special polar organelle. Within the basal organelle there is a system of ten spokes which are attached to the inner and outer boundaries of the basal body. These layers have a diameter of ca. 40 Å. The length of the spokes is 85 to 90 Å. At the centre of the basal body there is a core. Rhodopseudomonas palustris has three types of basal bodies: The first one has a diameter of about 450 Å and is bounded by a limited layer. The second type of basal body is localized between the cell wall and the cytoplasmic membrane. It is enveloped by a unit membrane which is continuous with the cytoplasmic membrane. This structure has a diameter of 600 to 650 Å. The third type lies in the cytoplasm near the cytoplasmic membrane and is wrapped up by two unit membranes, an inner and an outer membrane of the basal body. This complex structure has a diameter of about 1,000 to 1,100 Å. It is also attached to the cytoplasmic membrane by a membranous stalk. © 1969 Springer-Verlag.