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Membrane contacts of the endoplasmic reticulum and their possible functions in the plant cell

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Abstract

Close contacts of the endoplasmic reticulum membrane and plasmalemma have been visualized inside plant cells by means of electron microscopy. The qualitative similarity of these contacts to high-permeable intercellular contacts in animals has been shown. New data confirming the hypothesis of the identity of stromules, i.e., dynamic tubular protuberances of the plastid membrane of the plant cell, and tubular elements of the endoplasmic reticulum have been presented. New possible functions of the contacts of the endoplasmic reticulum membrane with other membranes inside the cell have been discussed on the basis of this hypothesis.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Kazan Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Kazan Research Center, Russian Academy of Sciences, ul. Lobachevskogo 2/31, Kazan, 420111, Russia

    G. A. Velikanov, L. P. Belova & A. A. Ponomareva

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  1. G. A. Velikanov
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  2. L. P. Belova
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  3. A. A. Ponomareva
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Correspondence to G. A. Velikanov.

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Original Russian Text © G.A. Velikanov, L.P. Belova, A.A. Ponomareva, 2011, published in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk, Seriya Biologicheskaya, 2011, No. 1, pp. 5–15.

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Velikanov, G.A., Belova, L.P. & Ponomareva, A.A. Membrane contacts of the endoplasmic reticulum and their possible functions in the plant cell. Biol Bull Russ Acad Sci 38, 1–9 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1134/S1062359011010122

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1134/S1062359011010122

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