Lipid Bodies in Eremosphaera viridis De Bary (Chlorophyceae)

Under conditions of stress, e.g., nitrogen deficiency, Eremosphaeraviridis De Bary (Chlorophyceae, Chlorococcales) synthesizedsecondary carotenoids and large amounts of triacylglycerolsforming orange-red, cytosolic lipid bodies. Additionally, fourpolypeptides (28, 26, 25 and 23 kDa) as well as traces of chlorophylla and b, of violaxanthin, neoxanthin and zeaxanthin, and ofmembrane lipids could be demonstrated in isolated lipid bodies.No membrane could be shown around the lipid bodies by the useof electron microscopy. The formation of lipid bodies in Eremosphaerais discussed as a bulging of the chloroplast envelope membranes. (Received June 25, 1991; Accepted October 26, 1991)