Skip to main content

The plasma membrane of the Funaria caulonema tip cell: morphology and distribution of particle rosettes, and the kinetics of cellulose synthesis

Planta volume 160, pages 428–435 (1984)Cite this article

Abstract

Freeze-fracturing of Funaria hygrometrica caulonema cells leads to a cleavage within the plasma membrane. The extraplasmatic and the plasmatic fracture faces differ in their particle density. The plasmatic fracture face in caulonema tip cells or in tip cells of side branches, but never in other caulonema cells, is further characterized by the occurrence of particle rosettes. The highest density of rosettes is found at the cell apex but decreases steeply toward the cell base. The shape of the rosettes varies remarkably; 20% of them are found in an incomplete, presumably disintegrating or aggregating state. The complete rosette has a diameter of about 25 nm and consists of five to six particles. The size of the single particles varies between 4 nm to 10 nm. The rosettes are thought to posses cellulose-synthase activity. It is assumed that one rosette produces one elementary fibril; rough calculations, considering the number of rosettes and the estimated amount of cellulose produced in the tip region, indicate that an elementary fibrillar length of 900 nm is formed in 1 min by one rosette. The consequence of the kinetics on the life-time of the rosettes and the cellulose-synthase activity are discussed.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution.

Access options

Buy single article

Instant access to the full article PDF.

43,34 €

Price includes VAT (Finland)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Abbreviations

EF:

extraplasmatic fracture face

PF:

plasmatic fracture face

References

  • Bopp, M., Fell, J. (1976) Manifestation der Cytokinin abhängigen Morphogenese bei der Induktion von Moosknospen. Z. Pflanzenphysiol. 79, 81–87

    Google Scholar 

  • Branton, D., Bullivant, S., Gilula, N.B., Karnovsky, M.J., Moor, H., Mühlethaler, K., Northcote, D.H., Packer, L., Satir, B., Satir, P., Speth, V., Staehelin, L.A., Steere, R.L., Weinstein, R.S. (1975) Freeze-etching nomenclature. Science 190, 54–56

    Google Scholar 

  • Brown, R.M., Jr., Willison, J.H.M., Richardson, C.L. (1976) Cellulose biosynthesis in Acetobacter xylinum: visualization of the site of synthesis and direct measurement of the in vivo process. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 73, 4565–4569

    Google Scholar 

  • Frey-Wyssling, A. (1959) Die pflanzliche Zellwand. Springer, Berlin Göttingen Heidelberg

    Google Scholar 

  • Frey-Wyssling, A., Mühlethaler, K. (1963) Die Elementarfibrille der Cellulose. Makromol. Chem. 62, 25–30

    Google Scholar 

  • Giddings, T.H., Brower, D.L., Staehelin, L.A. (1980) Visualization of particle complexes in the plasma membrane of Micrasterias denticulata associated with the formation of cellulose fibrils in primary and secondary walls. J. Cell Biol. 84, 327–339

    Google Scholar 

  • Heath, I.B., Seagull, R.W. (1982) Oriented cellulose fibrils and the cytoskeleton: a critical comparison of models. In: The cytoskeleton in plant growth and development, pp. 163–182, Lloyd, C.W., ed. Academic Press, London New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Herth, W. (1979) The sites of β-chitin fibril formation in centric diatoms. II. The chitin-forming cytoplasmic structures. J. Ultrastruct. Res. 68, 16–27

    Google Scholar 

  • Herth, W. (1983) Arrays of plasma membrane “rosettes” involved in cellulose microfibril formation of Spirogyra. Planta 159, 347–356

    Google Scholar 

  • Kiermayer, O. (1981) Cytoplasmic basis of morphogenesis in Micrasterias. In: Cell Biol. Monogr., vol. 8: Cytomorphogenesis in plants, pp. 147–189, Kiermayer, O., ed., Springer, Wien New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Mueller, S.C. (1982) Cellulose-microfibril assembly and orientation in higher plant cells with particular reference to seedlings of Zea mays. In: Cellulose and other natural polymer systems, pp. 87–103, Brown, R.M., Jr., ed. Plenum Press, New York London

    Google Scholar 

  • Robinson, D.G., Quader, H. (1981) Structure, synthesis, and orientation of microfibrils. IX. A freeze-fracture investigation of the Oocystis plasma membrane after inhibitor treatments. Eur. J. Cell Biol. 25, 278–288

    Google Scholar 

  • Schmiedel, G., Schnepf, E. (1979) Side branch formation and orientation in the caulonema of the moss, Funaria hygrometrica: normal development and fine structure. Protoplasma 100, 367–383

    Google Scholar 

  • Schmiedel, G., Schnepf, E. (1980) Polarity and growth of caulonema tip cells of the moss Funaria hygrometrica. Planta 147, 405–413

    Google Scholar 

  • Schnepf, E. (1965) Struktur der Zellwände und Cellulosefibrillen bei Glaucocystis. Planta 67, 213–224

    Google Scholar 

  • Schnepf, E. (1982) Morphogenesis in moss protonemata. In: The cytoskeleton in plant growth and development, pp. 321–244, Lloyd, C.W., ed. Academic Press, London New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Schnepf, E., Deichgräber, G., Herth, W. (1982a) Development of cell wall appendages in Acanthosphaera zachariasi (Chlorococcales): kinetics, site of cellulose synthesis and of microfibril assembly, and barb formation. Protoplasma 110, 203–214

    Google Scholar 

  • Schnepf, E., Hrdina, B., Lehne, A. (1982) Spore germination, development of the microtubule system and protonema cell morphogenesis in the moss, Funaria hygrometrica: effects of inhibitors and of growth substances. Biochem. Physiol. Pflanz. 177, 461–482

    Google Scholar 

  • Schnepf, E., Röderer, G., Herth, W. (1975) The formation of the fibrils in the lorica of Poterioochromonas stipitata: tip growth, kinetics, site, orientation. Planta 125, 45–62

    Google Scholar 

  • Staehelin, L.A., Giddings, T.H. (1982) membrane-mediated control of cell wall microfibrillar order. In: Developmental order: its origin and regulation, pp. 133–147. Liss, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Wada, M., Mineyuki, Y., Kadota, A., Furuya, M. (1980) The changes of nuclear position and distribution of circumferentially aligned cortical microtubules during the progression of cell cycle in Adiantum protonemata. Bot. mag. 93, 237–245

    Google Scholar 

  • Wada, M., Staehelin, L.A. (1981) Freeze-fracture observations on the plasma membrane, the cell wall and the cuticle of growing protonemata of Adiantum capillus-veneris L. Planta 151, 462–468

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Affiliations

  1. Zellenlehre, Universität Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 230, D-6900, Heidelberg, Germany

    Hans-Dieter Reiss, Eberhard Schnepf & Werner Herth

Authors
  1. Hans-Dieter Reiss
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Eberhard Schnepf
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Werner Herth
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and Permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Reiss, HD., Schnepf, E. & Herth, W. The plasma membrane of the Funaria caulonema tip cell: morphology and distribution of particle rosettes, and the kinetics of cellulose synthesis. Planta 160, 428–435 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00429759

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00429759

Key words

  • Caulonema
  • Funaria (caulonema)
  • Cellulose synthesis
  • Polar growth
  • Plasma membrane rosettes