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Integrated Microscopy of Extracellular Adhesives of the Marine Biofouling Alga Achnanthes Longipes (Bacillariophyceae)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 July 2020

Y. Wang ,
B. A. Wustman ,
Y. Chen ,
C. Lavin  and
M. R. Gretz
Y. Wang
Affiliation:
Department of Biological Sciences, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, MI49931
B. A. Wustman
Affiliation:
Department of Biological Sciences, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, MI49931
Y. Chen
Affiliation:
Integrated Microscopy Resource, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI53706
C. Lavin
Affiliation:
Integrated Microscopy Resource, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI53706
M. R. Gretz
Affiliation:
Department of Biological Sciences, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, MI49931
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Extract

An integrated approach including TEM, SEM and LM was utilized to investigate adhesives produced by the marine fouling diatom Achnanthes longipes. Extracellular adhesive secretion during sequential attachment in living diatom cells was examined using video microscopy. A suite of cryotechniques including high pressure freezing (HPF), freeze-substitution (FS) and high resolution cryo-field-emission SEM (cryo-FESEM) were required for preservation and structural investigation of the hydrophilic polymers synthesized by A. longipes that promote attachment to ship hulls, oil rigs and other submerged structures.

Living cells and associated extracellular biocomposites were rapidly cryo-immoblized and observed using a Hitachi S-900 FESEM equipped with a cryo-stage. This technique allowed resolution of details of polymer organization within the pad, shaft and collar portions of the major adhesive structure termed a stalk (Fig. 1,2). This stalk has been demonstrated to consist mainly of polysaccharide cross-linked by O-linked polypeptides. In addition to permanently adhering the diatom to the substratum, the stalk elevates A. longipes, possibly enhancing the ability to successfully compete with other biofilm dwellers.

Type
Biological Ultrastructure/Microbiology
Information
Microscopy and Microanalysis , Volume 4 , Issue S2: Proceedings: Microscopy & Microanalysis '98, Microscopy Society of America 56th Annual Meeting, Microbeam Analysis Society 32nd Annual Meeting, Atlanta, Georgia July 12-16, 1998 , July 1998 , pp. 1134 - 1135
Copyright
Copyright © Microscopy Society of America

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References

References:

1.Wang, Y. et al., Plant Physiol. 113(1997)1071.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
2.Wustman, B. A. et al., Plant Physiol. 113(1997)1059.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
3.Wustman, B. A. et al., Plant Physiol. (1998) In Press.Google Scholar
4. This research was supported by the Office of Naval Research (grants N00014-94-1-0273 and N00014-94-1-0766) and NIH Biomedical Research Technology Grant RR 00570.Google Scholar