Abstract
In maize (Zea mays L.) and pine (Pinus taeda L.) seedlings, cellulose microfibril impressions are present on freeze-fractured plasma membranes. It has been proposed that impressions of newly synthesized microfibrils are a record of the movement of terminal synthesizing complexes through the plasma membrane (Mueller and Brown, 1980, J. Cell Biol. 84, 315–326). The association of terminal complexes with the ends of microfibril impressions or with the ends of microfibrils torn through the membrane indicates the orientation of microfibril tips. Unidirectionally-oriented microfibril tips (all pointing in the same direction) are associated with the organized deposition of parallel arrays of microfibrils. Multidirectionally-oriented microfibril tips were observed in a cell in which microfibril deposition was unusually disorganized. Microfibril patterns around pit fields are asymmetric and resemble flow patterns. Unidirectionally-oriented tears are associated with these microfibrils. Although microfibril orientations are deflected around pit fields, the main axis of microfibril orientation is maintained across the surface of the cell. The hypothesis is proposed that the interaction of a flowing plasma membrane with microfibril synthesizing complexes in the plane of the membrane may result in unidirectional deposition and asymmetric microfibril impressions around pit fields.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Branton, D., Bullivant, S., Gilula, N.B., Karnovsky, M.J., Moor, H., Muhlethaler, K., Northcote, D.H., Packer, L., Satir, B., Satir, P., Speth, U., Staehelin, L.A., Steer, R.L., Weinstein, R.S. (1975) Freeze-etching nomenclature. Science 190, 54–56
Bretscher, M.S. (1976) Directed membrane flow in cell membranes. Nature 260, 21–23
Brown, R.M., Jr. (1974) Bewegung des Protoplasten und Funktion des Golgi-Apparates in Algen. Film C1071/1971, Inst. für den Wiss. Film, Göttingen, FRG. Publ. Wiss. Film. 7, 361–381
Brown, R.M., Jr. (1979) Biogenesis of natural polymer systems, with special reference to cellulose assembly and deposition. In: Structure and biochemistry of natural biological systems. Proc. III Philip Morris Sci. Symp., pp. 52–103, Walk, E.M., ed. Philip Morris, New York
Brown, R.M., Jr., Montezinos, D. (1976) Cellulose microfibrils: visualization of biosynthetic and orienting complexes in association with the plasma membrane. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 73, 143–147
Chafe, S.C. (1978) On the mechanisms of cell wall microfibrillar orientation. Wood Sci. Technol. 12, 203–217
Chrispeels, M.J. (1976) Biosynthesis, intracellular transport and secretion of extracellular macromolecules. Annu. Rev. Plant Physiol. 27, 19–58
Delmer, D.P. (1977) The biosynthesis of cellulose and other plant cell wall polysaccharides. In: Recent advances in phytochemistry, pp. 45–77, Loewus, F.A., Runeckles, V.C., eds. Plenum, New York
Edidin, M. (1974) Rotational and translational diffusion in membranes. Annu. Rev. Biophys. Bioeng. 3, 179–201
Giddings, T.H., Jr., 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 cell walls. J. Cell Biol. 84, 327–339
Hepler, P.K., Fosket, D.E. (1971) The role of microtubules in vessel member differentiation in Coleus. Protoplasma 72, 213–236
Hepler, P.K., Palevitz, B.A. (1974) Microtubules and microfilaments. Annu. Rev. Plant Physiol. 25, 309–362
Maclachlan, G.A. (1977) Cellulose metabolism and cell growth. In: Plant growth regulation, pp. 13–20, Pilet, P.E. ed. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York
Montezinos, D., Brown, R.M., Jr. (1976) Surface architecture of the plant cell: biogenesis of the cell wall, with special emphasis on the role of the plasma membrane in cellulose biosynthesis. J. Supramol. Struct. 5, 277(229)-290(242)
Mueller, S.C., Brown, R.M., Jr. (1980) Evidence for an intramembrane component associated with a cellulose microfibril-synthesizing complex in higher plants. J. Cell Biol. 84, 315–326
Mueller, S.C., Brown, R.M., Jr. (1982) The control of cellulose microfibril deposition in the cell wall of higher plants. II. Freeze-fracture microfibril patterns in maize seedling tissues following experimental alteration with colchicine and ethylene. Planta 154, 501–515
Mueller, S.C., Brown, R.M., Jr., Scott, T.K. (1976) Cellulose microfibrils: nascent stages of synthesis in a higher plant cell. Science 194, 949–951
Preston, R.D. (1974) The physical biology of plant cell walls. Chapman and Hall, London
Roland, J.C., Vian, B., Reis, D. (1975) Observations with cytochemistry and ultracryomicrotomy on the fine structure of the expanding walls in actively elongating plant cells. J. Cell Sci. 19, 1–21
Singer, S.J., Nicolson, G.L. (1971) The fluid mosaic model of the structure of cell membranes. Science 175, 720–731
Tamm, S.L. (1979) Membrane movement and fluidity during rotational mobility of a termite flagellate. J. Cell Biol. 80, 141–149
Wada, M., Staehelin, L.A. (1981) Freeze-fracture observations on the plasma membrane, the cell wall and the cuticle of growing protonema of Adiantum capillus-venesis L. Planta 151, 462–468
Walter, R.J., Berlin, E.D., Pfeiffer, J.R., Oliver, J.M. (1980) Polarization of endocytosis and receptor topography on cultured macrophages. J. Cell Biol. 86, 199–211
Weihing, R.R. (1979) The cytoskeleton and plasma membrane. Meth. Achiev. Exp. Pathol. 8, 42–109
Willison, J.H.M., Brown, R.M., Jr. (1977) An examination of the developing cotton fiber: wall and plasmalemma. Protoplasma 92, 21–42
Willison, J.H.M., Brown, R.M., Jr. (1978a) Cell wall structure and deposition in Glaucocystis. J. Cell Biol. 77, 103–119
Willison, J.H.M., Brown, R.M., Jr. (1987b) A model for the pattern of deposition of microfibrils in the cell wall of Glaucocystis. Planta 141, 51–58
Willison, J.H.M., Grout, B.W.W. (1978) Further observations on cell-wall formation around isolated protoplasts of tobacco and tomato. Planta 140, 57–58
Young, D.A., Service, M.J. (1971) Slow viscous flow and the organization of the cell wall in conifer tracheids. Wood Sci. Technol. 5, 1–5
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Some of this work has been published in preliminary form (Brown 1979)
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Mueller, S.C., Brown, R.M. The control of cellulose microfibril deposition in the cell wall of higher plants. Planta 154, 489–500 (1982). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00402993
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00402993