Summary
Cells ofMicrasterias denticulata Bréb. at the stage of secondary wall formation have been studied by freeze-etching. It was found that the plasma membrane exhibits oval areas in which arrays of membrane particles occur. These particles form “rosettes” which are arranged in a hexagonally ordered lattice with a center to center spacing of ∼ 25 nm. Nearly the same periodicities can be found between microfibrils. It is concluded that the “rosettes” probably together with the thickened area of the plasma membrane below them represent the apparatus for the production and orientation of microfibrils. The hypothesis suggesting the incorporation of “membrane templates” functional in microfibril formation, originally advanced byKiermayer andDobberstein (1973) has received further support.
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Kiermayer, O., Sleytr, U.B. Hexagonally ordered “rosettes” of particles in the plasma membrane ofMicrasterias denticulata Bréb. and their significance for microfibril formation and orientation. Protoplasma 101, 133–138 (1979). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01293442
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01293442