THE PARASPORAL BODY OF BACILLUS LATEROSPORUS LAUBACH

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Abstract
When the spores mature they lie in a lateral position cradled in canoe-shaped parasporal bodies which are highly basophilic and can be differentiated from the surrounding vegetative cell cytoplasm with dilute basic dyes. On completion of sporulation the vegetative cell protoplasm and cell wall lyse leaving the spore cradled in its parasporal body. A study of ultrathin sections shows that the parasporal body is organized, comprising in both longitudinal and cross sections, electron dense lamellae running parallel with the membranes of the spore coat and less electron dense material in the interstices of the lamellae. The inner surface of the body is contiguous with that of the spore coat as if it were part of the spore rather than a separate body attached to the spore. A comparison was drawn between the structure of the parasporal body and the two lamella systems of the spore, the spore coat and the spore cortex. It was concluded that the body was related to the former and that the body might arise as a result of a deformation of an accessory spore coat which in related species normally covers the spore.