DEMONSTRATION OF A HIGHLY ORDERED PATTERN UPON A MITOCHONDRIAL SURFACE

Open Access
Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Mitochondria in synaptic bodies of the cat retina are frequently found aggregated in an unusually intimate way. Opposing surface membranes come to lie closely together with a strictly uniform spacing of approximately 125 Angstrom units between them. In such contact areas the outer apposed osmiophilic membranes have a markedly beaded appearance with a periodicity of 160 Angstrom units. Thus the two apposed membranes exhibit a repeating lattice structure of constant dimensions. Conclusions are generalized on the assumption that it requires special cross-linking circumstances to reveal what probably is a fundamental aspect of the mitochondrial envelope, and perhaps of cytomembranes in general.