Skip to main content
Plant Physiology logoLink to Plant Physiology
. 1971 Dec;48(6):675–682. doi: 10.1104/pp.48.6.675

Isolation of Spherosomes (Oleosomes) from Onion, Cabbage, and Cottonseed Tissues

L Y Yatsu a, T J Jacks a, T P Hensarling a
PMCID: PMC396928  PMID: 16657860

Abstract

Subcellular particles, identical in appearance to spherosomes observed in situ, were isolated from onions (Allium cepa L.) and cabbages (Brassica capitata L.). They were minute spherules about 1 micron in diameter, filled with an evenly stained osmiophilic matrix and delimited by a single, fineline membrane 20 to 30 Å thick.

“Spherosomes” isolated from onions and cabbages were compared with “oil-droplets” isolated from cottonseeds. Morphologically, they were similar, even at ultrastructural levels. Their chemical compositions were also similar: both types of particles containing primarily lipid with very little phospholipid or protein. Neither type of particle possessed acid phosphatase activity.

These results indicate that oil-droplets of oleaginous tissues correspond to spherosomes of nonoily tissues. Therefore, both types of particles should be referred to by the same name. Since these particles are rich in lipids, it is suggested that the name “spherosome” be abandoned in favor of “oleosome,” which is also entitled to priority.

Full text

PDF

Images in this article

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. JENSEN W. A. THE ULTRASTRUCTURE AND HISTOCHEMISTRY OF THE SYNERGIDS OF COTTON. Am J Bot. 1965 Mar;52:238–256. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Jacks T. J., Yatsu L. Y., Altschul A. M. Isolation and characterization of peanut spherosomes. Plant Physiol. 1967 Apr;42(4):585–597. doi: 10.1104/pp.42.4.585. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. MARTIN E. M., MORTON R. K. The chemical composition of microsomes and mitochondria from silver beet. Biochem J. 1956 Oct;64(2):221–235. doi: 10.1042/bj0640221. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. MINARI O., ZILVERSMIT D. B. USE OF KCN FOR STABILIZATION OF COLOR IN DIRECT NESSLERIZATION OF KJELDAHL DIGESTS. Anal Biochem. 1963 Oct;6:320–327. doi: 10.1016/0003-2697(63)90156-8. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Sorokin H. P., Sorokin S. Fluctuations in the acid phosphatase activity of spherosomes in guard cells of Campanula periscifolia. J Histochem Cytochem. 1968 Dec;16(12):791–802. doi: 10.1177/16.12.791. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Plant Physiology are provided here courtesy of Oxford University Press

RESOURCES