Mutation of the Euglena Chloroplast System: The Mechanism of Bleaching by Nitrosoguanidine and Related Compounds

SYNOPSIS. I have examined the possibility that compounds like nitrosoguanidine bleach Euglena by serving as sources of diazomethane or other active compounds. Since exposure of Euglena gracilis Z to sufficient diazomethane to kill over 99% of the cells does not cause any significant bleaching (i.e., permanent loss of chloroplastforming ability) in the survivors, diazomethane is not the active bleaching agent. The possibility that other …