Abstract
In this study the proplastid development in embryonic cells is described for the apical meristem of Elodea canadensis, embryo sacs from Lilies, and Begonia leaf buds. The formation of these cell organelles originates with submicroscopical particles which consist of a homogeneous stroma with a surrounding double membrane. When these proplastids reach an average size of 1 µ, the inner layer of the membrane begins to invaginate into the stroma. This process is comparable to tubuli formation in mitochondria. Under growth conditions with sufficient exposure to light, the development of the grana and stroma lamellae proceeds without interruption. If the plants are kept in the dark, small vesicles are formed which accumulate in the prolamellar body of the proplastids. After illumination these elementary vesicles merge to form membranes which evolve into grana and stroma lamellae. The structural similarity of the early proplastid stages with the mitochondria seems to indicate that there exists some phylogenetic relationship between the two cell organelles.
Full Text
The Full Text of this article is available as a PDF (1.2 MB).
Selected References
These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.
- Arnon D. I., Whatley F. R., Allen M. B. Assimilatory Power in Photosynthesis: Photosynthetic phosphorylation by isolated chloroplasts is coupled with TPN reduction. Science. 1958 May 2;127(3305):1026–1034. doi: 10.1126/science.127.3305.1026. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- BRODY M., VATTER A. E. Observations on cellular structures of Porphyridium cruentum. J Biophys Biochem Cytol. 1959 Mar 25;5(2):289–294. doi: 10.1083/jcb.5.2.289. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- DE DEKEN-GRENSON M. Grana formation and synthesis of chloroplastic proteins induced by light in portions of etiolated leaves. Biochim Biophys Acta. 1954 Jun;14(2):203–211. doi: 10.1016/0006-3002(54)90159-6. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- HEITZ E. Kristallgitterstruktur des Granum junger Chloroplasten von Chlorophytum. Exp Cell Res. 1954 Nov;7(2):606–608. doi: 10.1016/s0014-4827(54)80114-5. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- HODGE A. J., MCLEAN J. D., MERCER F. V. A possible mechanism for the morphogenesis of lamellar systems in plant cells. J Biophys Biochem Cytol. 1956 Sep 25;2(5):597–608. doi: 10.1083/jcb.2.5.597. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- LEYON H. The structure of chloroplasts. VI. The origin of the chloroplast laminae. Exp Cell Res. 1954 Nov;7(2):609–611. doi: 10.1016/s0014-4827(54)80115-7. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- LUFT J. H. Permanganate; a new fixative for electron microscopy. J Biophys Biochem Cytol. 1956 Nov 25;2(6):799–802. doi: 10.1083/jcb.2.6.799. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- VATTER A. E., WOLFE R. S. The structure of photosynthetic bacteria. J Bacteriol. 1958 Apr;75(4):480–488. doi: 10.1128/jb.75.4.480-488.1958. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]