The storage polysaccharide (paraglycogen) of the gregarine, Gregarina blaberae: cytology and biochemistry

1. 1. Storage polysaccharide bodies in trophozoites of Gregarina blaberae have been studied using light and electron microscopy. The bodies, which grow to at least 6 µm, show a dark cross phenomenon in polarized light microscopy. 2. 2. Chemical and enzymic investigations indicate that the storage polysaccharide of G. blaberae is an amylopectin with an average chain length of about nineteen glucose residues, and with properties closely resembling the amylopectin from the coccidia Eimeria tenella. 3. 3. The fine structure of the storage polysaccharide has been studied using a debranching enzyme from Cytophaga. The unit chain profile of the debranched polysaccharide is intermediate between a plant amylopectin and an animal glycogen and is similar to that of sweet corn phytoglycogen. © 1973.