A mesosome is a specialized membraneous structure formed by an extension of the plasma membrane into the cell. These extensions include vesicles, tubules, and lamellae. They aid in the formation of cell walls, the replication of DNA, and the distribution of DNA to daughter cells.
Mesosomes are organelles formed by plasma membrane infoldings. They are found in the membranes of bacterial cells.
They’re invaginated structures made up of vesicles and tubules with lamellar whorls. Flat vesicles form the lamellae, which are connected to the cell membrane.
Nitrobacter, Nitrosomonas, and Nitrococcus all have a lamellar whorl.
The plasma membrane invaginates and tubularly accretes to form the vesicles. The structure of the vesicle is disrupted as a result of constriction at equal distances. Chrodospirillum rubrum and chromatium both have densely packed spherical vesicles. The vesicular bodies of some purple bacteria are flattened and stacked into thylakoids.
They are not found in eukaryotes.
Uses of mesosomes-
They play a role in the formation of cell walls.
They are involved in the replication of DNA (chromosomes).
They aid in the transfer of chromosomes to daughter cells.
They participate in respiration, but they are not the same as mitochondria because they lack outer membranes. Mesosome vesicles contain respiratory enzymes and electron transport components such as ATPase, dehydrogenase, and cytochromes in small amounts.
They aid in the secretion process.
They increase the surface area of the plasma membrane as well as the enzymatic content.