Figure 2

Apicoplast ultrastructure in Plasmodium falciparum merozoites. A – Apicoplast of a Plasmodium falciparum merozoite processed by glutaraldehyde and osmium chemical fixation and examined by transmission electron microscopy. The plastid is clearly surrounded by four membranes (arrowheads), with a gap between the two outermost membranes and the two innermost membranes (asterisk) in some regions. B – When processed by high-pressure freezing and freeze substitution, the apicoplast (arrow) ultrastructure was better preserved, also presenting four membranes. The gap between the membranes 2 and 3 is still present. Scale bars: A = 50 nm; B = 200 nm.