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Science 20 July 1984:
Vol. 225. no. 4659, pp. 331 - 333
DOI: 10.1126/science.225.4659.331
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Articles

Mechanical Wounding Induces the Formation of Extensive Coated Membranes in Giant Algal Cells

RORY M. O'NEIL 1 and JOHN W. LA CLAIRE II 1

1 Department of Botany, University of Texas, Austin 78712

Mechanically wounding giant cells of Boergesenia forbesii induces the formation of bristle-coated, plasma-membrane invaginations (coated pits) and coated vesicles, easily providing a plentiful source of coated membranes in a clean cellular system unencumbered by other tissues. Contractions evoked by wounding partition the cytoplasm into hundreds of spherical protoplasts with approximately 40 percent less total plasma-membrane surface area than the original cell. Ferritin labeling and the appearance of numerous large coated pits and vesicles at the peak period of contraction indicate that these organelles play a role in extensive endocytosis of the plasma membrane.

Submitted on December 1, 1983
Accepted on January 11, 1984


THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES:
Eukaryotic Cells and their Cell Bodies: Cell Theory Revised.
F. BALUSKA, D. VOLKMANN, and P. W. BARLOW (2004)
Ann. Bot. 94, 9-32
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Science. ISSN 0036-8075 (print), 1095-9203 (online)