Abstract
This paper reports an electron microscope examination of the cortices of some plant cells engaged in wall formation. Previous studies of similar material fixed in OSO4 alone have disclosed discontinuities in the plasma membrane and other evidence of inadequate fixation. After glutaraldehyde, used as a fixative in this present study, the general preservation of cortical fine structure is greatly improved. This is shown, for example, by the first evidence of slender tubules, 230 to 270 A in diameter and of indeterminate length, in plant cells of this type. They have been found in the cortical regions of cells of two angiosperms and one gymnosperm, representing all the material so far studied following this method of fixation. The tubules are identical in morphology to those also observed here in the mitotic spindles of plant cells, except that the latter have a somewhat smaller diameter. It is noted that the cortical tubules are in a favored position to govern cytoplasmic streaming and to exert an influence over the disposition of cell wall materials. In this regard it may be of some significance that the tubules just beneath the surface of the protoplast mirror the orientation of the cellulose microfibrils of the adjacent cell walls.
Full Text
The Full Text of this article is available as a PDF (1.3 MB).
Selected References
These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.
- BURGOS M. H., FAWCETT D. W. An electron microscope study of spermatid differentiation in the toad, Bufo arenarum Hensel. J Biophys Biochem Cytol. 1956 May 25;2(3):223–240. doi: 10.1083/jcb.2.3.223. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- FAWCETT D. W. Physiologically significant specializations of the cell surface. Circulation. 1962 Nov;26:1105–1132. doi: 10.1161/01.cir.26.5.1105. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- GIBBONS I. R. The relationship between the fine structure and direction of beat in gill cilia of a lamellibranch mollusc. J Biophys Biochem Cytol. 1961 Oct;11:179–205. doi: 10.1083/jcb.11.1.179. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- HARRIS P. Some structural and functional aspects of the mitotic apparatus in sea urchin embryos. J Cell Biol. 1962 Sep;14:475–487. doi: 10.1083/jcb.14.3.475. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- LUFT J. H. Improvements in epoxy resin embedding methods. J Biophys Biochem Cytol. 1961 Feb;9:409–414. doi: 10.1083/jcb.9.2.409. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- PORTER K. R., MACHADO R. D. Studies on the endoplasmic reticulum. IV. Its form and distribution during mitosis in cells of onion root tip. J Biophys Biochem Cytol. 1960 Feb;7:167–180. doi: 10.1083/jcb.7.1.167. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- REYNOLDS E. S. The use of lead citrate at high pH as an electron-opaque stain in electron microscopy. J Cell Biol. 1963 Apr;17:208–212. doi: 10.1083/jcb.17.1.208. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- ROTH L. E., DANIELS E. W. Electron microscopic studies of mitosis in amebae. II. The giant ameba Pelomyxa carolinensis. J Cell Biol. 1962 Jan;12:57–78. doi: 10.1083/jcb.12.1.57. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- WATSON M. L. Staining of tissue sections for electron microscopy with heavy metals. J Biophys Biochem Cytol. 1958 Jul 25;4(4):475–478. doi: 10.1083/jcb.4.4.475. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- WHALEY W. G., MOLLENHAUER H. H., KEPHART J. E. The endoplasmic reticulum and the Golgi structures in maize root cells. J Biophys Biochem Cytol. 1959 May 25;5(3):501–506. doi: 10.1083/jcb.5.3.501. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]