PECULIARITIES OF TH.TERRESTRIS SPORES SURFACE ULTRASTRUCTURE INVESTIGATED BY AFM

摘要

Properties of different micro-organisms are intensively investigated because they display several vital functions, and, among them, the most interesting are: protecting the cytoplasm from an environment, providing the cell with a rigid structure, determining the cell shape, controlling cell adhesion and cell aggregation processes. These processes at the macrolevel have their consequences both in natural environment and in biotechnologies. Investigations of a composition and properties of a surface of both dormant spores and those in the course of germination for various kinds of fungi was done by many researchers (Gerin et al., 1993; Dute et at., 1989; Ellis, 1978). However, the problem whether there are differences in their structure at varied directions of formecreating processes remains open. The atomic force microscopy (AFM) as a new method for subnanometer surface features investigations was intensively developed during last decade. The method has a large potential not only in 3-D surface mapping but also in investigations of surface physico-chemical properties. One of the features of the given method of research consists in original state of sample preparations. The samples are not exposed to any processing, i.e. the method (practically not destructive) allows to investigate the behaviour of the biological systems in natural conditions; this is especially valuable at study of the morphogenetic processes. AH this distinctions are combined with high 3-D resolution.