Index >> Bacterial Structure >> Polymetaphosphate [PO₃]n / Volutin Granules

Polymetaphosphate [PO₃]n / Volutin Granules-

Polymetaphosphate (PO3ˉ)n or volutin granules stain reddish violet with methylene 'blue or toluidine blue.

The name 'volutin' is derived from the fact that the granules are particularly common in Spirillum volutans.

They are also common in the corynebacteria, especially C. diphtheria, and in the mycobacteria.

The granules arc also known as metachromatic granules because they stain with change, in colour.

In the granules is stored phosphate in the form of linear chains of inorganic pyrophosphate.

The phosphate is incorporated into nucleic acid during the synthesis of the latter.

When nucleic acid synthesis is prevented by starvation, the granules accumulate in the cytoplasm.