Cellulose microfibril assembly and orientation in higher plant cells

Conference · Sat Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1983 · J. Appl. Polym. Sci.: Appl. Polym. Symp.; (United States)

OSTI ID:6915548

Mueller, S C ^[1]; Maclachlan, G A; Brown, Jr, R M

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1. Syracuse Univ., NY

Freeze-fractured plasma membranes of seedlings of Zea mays L., Burpee's Snowcross, and Pisum sativum L., variety Alsaka, contain terminal complex structures and the impressions of microfibrils from the newest cell wall layer.Terminal complex subunits are on the exoplasmic fracture (EF) face, and rosette subunits are on the protoplasmic fracture (PF) face of the membrane. The association of terminal complexes and rosettes with microfibril tips and their association with newly deposited groups of microfibrils is indirect evidence for their role in microfibril assembly. Microtubules may be responsible for certain orientations of microfibrils, particularly the formation of bands of microfibrils in newly deposited wall layers. However, microfibril orienting mechanisms are more complex, involving factors still present during colchicine treatment. Since UDP-glucose is thought to be a precursor of cellulose microfibrils in higher plant cells, EM radioautography was used to determine the site of incorporation of glucose. However, under the conditions used, glucose was only incorporated from UDP-glucose at the surface of cut or damaged pea stem cells, i.e., in vitro. Thus, incorporation of glucose from UDP-glucose was not useful for probing the patterns of cellulose microfibril synthesis in vivo. 18 references, 8 figures.

• OSTI ID: 6915548
• Report Number(s): CONF-8205234-Vol.1
• Journal Information: J. Appl. Polym. Sci.: Appl. Polym. Symp.; (United States), Conference: 9. cellulose conference, Syracuse, NY, USA, 24 May 1982
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
09 BIOMASS FUELS
CELL MEMBRANES
MICROSTRUCTURE
MORPHOLOGY
CELL WALL
CELLULOSE
BIOSYNTHESIS
AUTORADIOLYSIS
BIOCHEMICAL REACTION KINETICS
BIOLOGICAL PATHWAYS
COLCHICINE
ELECTRON MICROSCOPY
ORIENTATION
PEAS
PLANT GROWTH
UDPG
ALKALOIDS
ANTIMITOTIC DRUGS
ANTIPYRETICS
AUTOLYSIS
CARBOHYDRATES
CELL CONSTITUENTS
CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM DEPRESSANTS
CHEMICAL RADIATION EFFECTS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CHEMISTRY
CRYSTAL STRUCTURE
DECOMPOSITION
DRUGS
FOOD
GLYCOSIDES
GROWTH
KINETICS
MEMBRANES
MICROSCOPY
NUCLEOTIDES
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC PHOSPHORUS COMPOUNDS
POLYSACCHARIDES
RADIATION CHEMISTRY
RADIATION EFFECTS
RADIOLYSIS
REACTION KINETICS
SACCHARIDES
SYNTHESIS
VEGETABLES
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550300 - Cytology