1. a folded invagination of the cell membrane in bacteria that contains enzymes involved in cellular respiration
Usage: biology; microbiology

Examples

• The mesosome serves as the site of respiratory enzyme activity in bacterial cells.
• Researchers observed mesosomes using electron microscopy to study bacterial cell structure.
• The formation of mesosomes increases the surface area available for metabolic processes.
• Some scientists debate whether mesosomes are natural structures or artifacts of specimen preparation.
• Mesosomes are particularly prominent in gram-positive bacteria.
• The mesosome connects to the bacterial chromosome during cell division.