Prochloron: A Microbial Enigma

1.Introduction.- 2. Collection and Handling of Prochloron and Its Hosts.- Collection and Handling.- Didemnum molle.- Diplosoma virens.- Diplosoma similis.- Trididemnum cyclops.- Lissoclinum punctatum.- Lissoclinum voeltzkowi.- Lissoclinum patella.- Treatment of Prochloron cells.- Conclusion.- 3. Prochloron in Symbiosis.- Photosynthesis.- Translocation.- Formation of the Symbiosis.- Biochemical Interactions between the Symbionts.- Other Interactions between the Symbionts.- References.- 4. Physiological and Cellular Features of Prochloron.- Photosynthetic Features of Prochloron.- Carbon Metabolism.- Photosynthesis-Irradiance Relationships.- Respiratory Behavior and Carbon Balance in Prochloron.- Properties of the Photosynthetic Pigments and Membranes of Prochloron.- Pigments and Pigment-Protein Complexes.- Why Has Prochloron a Chlorophyll a + b Harvesting System?.- Physiology of the Prochloron-Ascidian Association.- Photosynthesis and Respiration of Symbiotic Didemnids.- Nitrogen Assimilation.- Obligate Nature of Symbiosis.- Some Suggested Physiological Requirements for the Culture of Prochloron.- Conclusion.- References.- 5. Biochemical Features of Prochloron.- General Features of Enzyme Isolation.- Enzymes of Photosynthetic Carbon Metabolism.- Ribulose 1,5-Bisphosphate Carboxylase-Oxygenase.- Phosphoribulose Kinase.- Enzymes of Glucan Synthesis and Storage Carbohydrates.- Lipophilic Components.- Lipid and Sterol Composition.- Pigments.- Properties of Membrane Fractions.- Miscellaneous Compounds and Metabolic Investigations.- Proteins and Amino Acids.- Cell Wall Components.- Nucleic Acids.- Nitrogen Metabolism.- Conclusion.- References.- 6. Phylogenetic Considerations of Prochloron.- Phylogenetic Position.- Phylogentic Rank.- Possible Relationship to Chloroplasts.- References.- 7. The Cytology of Prochloron.- The Cell Wall.- Thylakoids.- Inclusions.- Nucleic Acids.- Conclusion.- References.- 8. A Status Report on Prochlorothrix hollandica a Free-Living Prochlorophyte.- Epilogue.- Author Index.