THE DEMONSTRATION OF THE SUCCINIC DEHYDROGENASE SYSTEM IN BACILLUS SUBTILIS USING TETRANITRO-BLUE TETRAZOLIUM COMBINED WITH TECHNIQUES OF ELECTRON MICROSCOPY

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Abstract
Activity of the succinic dehydrogenase system was studied in Bacillus subtilis utilizing combined techniques of cytochemistry and electron microscopy. Organisms were incubated in a medium containing tetranitro-blue tetrazolium (TNBT) which served as an electron acceptor. Enzymatic activity, as evidenced by deposition of TNBT-formazan, was found on membranous organelles associated with the cytoplasmic membrane and septal plasma membrane, the nuclear area, and the plasma membrane. Flagella, ∼190 A in diameter, with thorn-like projections protruded through the cell wall. Tangential-oblique sections of the cell wall showed many pores ∼220 A in diameter with a center-to-center spacing of ∼450 A.