ABSTRACT: Whole cell lysates of pathogenic and nonpathogenic strains of Cryptobia salmositica were subjected to subcellular fractionation using differential and isopycnic centrifugation in sucrose. The glycolytic enzymes hexokinase, fructose-1,6-biphosphate aldolase, triosephosphate isomerase, glucosephosphate isomerase and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate-dehydrogenase and the peroxisomal enzyme catalase were associated with a microbody that had a buoyant density in sucrose of 1.21 g cm^-3. Lactate dehydrogenase was detected in whole cell lysates, but not in purified organelles. A microbody with a positive reaction for catalase was detected in electron microscope sections of the pathogenic and nonpathogenic strains. These catalase-containing microbodies fused with lipid bodies and vacuoles, arose by division from pre-existing microbodies and expelled their contents into the cytoplasm of the cell. Both strains also modified the catalase content in their microbodies. Under aerobic conditions, they metabolized glucose to pyruvate and lactate. We conclude that part of the glycolytic pathway in C. salmositica is compartmentalized in a microbody called the glycosome.

KEY WORDS: Cryptobia · Glycosome · Glycolytic enzymes · Catalase · Pyruvate · Lactate

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Published in DAO Vol. 42, No. 1 (2000) on August 10
ISSN: 0177-5103. Copyright © Inter-Research, Oldendorf/Luhe, 2000