ULTRASTRUCTURAL AND ENZYMATIC EVIDENCE FOR THE PRESENCE OF MICROBODIES IN THE FUNGUS ACHLYA

Ultrastructural evidence for structures resembling microbodies is presented for the fungus Achlya ambisexualis Raper. These structures are DAB positive and thus presumably contain the enzyme catalase. Activities from mycelial homogenates for. the following enzymes are given: catalase, glycolate oxidase, uricase, isocitrate lyase, malate dehydrogenase, citrate synthetase, malate synthetase and glutamate: oxaloacetate transaminase. These results suggest that Achlya contains microbodies and that they may be of the glyoxysome type. The specific activity of catalase increases substantially following initiation of antheridial hyphae by the hormone antheridiol.