Figure 2From: Microalgae as bioreactors for bioplastic productionFluorescence and electron microscopic analyses on PHB accumulation in P. tricornutum. Cytosolic expression of enzymes PhaA, PhaB and PhaC of R. eutropha H16 induces the formation of granule-like structures that are stained by the lipophilic dye Nile red as visualized by fluorescence microscopy (A: NO3-). Under non-induced conditions no such granules were observed (A: NH4+). Electron microscopic analyses confirm cytosolic accumulation of electron-translucent granules (exemplarily marked by arrows) in cell lines expressing bacterial enzymes of the PHB pathway (C-F). PHB granules are about 0.1-0.3 μm in size and were not observed under non-induced conditions (B). Scale bar represents 1 μm (B-D) and 500 nm (E/F). DIC - differential interference contrast, G - golgi apparatus, Mt -mitochondrium, Nu - nucleus, PAF - plastid autofluorescence, Pl - plastid, V - vacuoleBack to article page