Electron Microscopic Observation on Phase Transition of Purple Membrane

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Abstract
Structural changes during the thermal phase transition of purple membrane were observed by freeze-fracture electron microscopy. Native Halobacterium halobium cells contain broad purple membrane areas about 1 μm in diameter. The boundary separating purple and red membranes is obvious. On warming at 80°C, particles of red membrane spread out beyond the boundary. Then a purple membrane area is eventually divided into small areolae of similar size, about 0.1 μm in diameter. By cooling down slowly, the purple membrane area is reformed and the crystalline arrangement also restored.

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