An update on fibrous flagellar roots in green algae

K. -F. Lechtreck; M. Melkonian

doi:10.1007/bf01320813

An update on fibrous flagellar roots in green algae

The Cytoskeleton of Flagellate and Ciliate Protists ◽

10.1007/978-3-7091-6714-4_5 ◽

1991 ◽

pp. 38-44 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

K.-F. Lechtreck ◽

M. Melkonian

Keyword(s):

Green Algae ◽

Flagellar Roots ◽

Fibrous Flagellar Roots

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A polyclonal antibody (anticentrin) distinguishes between two types of fibrous flagellar roots in green algae

PROTOPLASMA ◽

10.1007/bf01320280 ◽

1988 ◽

Vol 144 (1) ◽

pp. 56-61 ◽

Cited By ~ 26

Author(s):

M. Melkonian ◽

D. Schulze ◽

G. I. McFadden ◽

H. Robenek

Keyword(s):

Green Algae ◽

Polyclonal Antibody ◽

Flagellar Roots ◽

Fibrous Flagellar Roots

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Flagellar roots, mating structure and gametic fusion in the green alga Ulva lactuca (Ulvales)

Journal of Cell Science ◽

10.1242/jcs.46.1.149 ◽

1980 ◽

Vol 46 (1) ◽

pp. 149-169

Author(s):

M. Melkonian

Keyword(s):

Boundary Layer ◽

Cell Fusion ◽

Green Algae ◽

Ulva Lactuca ◽

Ultrastructural Changes ◽

Flagellar Roots ◽

Mating Structure ◽

Male Gametes ◽

Microtubular Root ◽

Microtubular Roots

The slightly anisogamous gametes of Ulva lactuca exhibit a cruciate flagellar root system consisting of 4 microtubular roots (4-2-4-2 system) and an elaborate system of fibrous roots associated with the 2-stranded microtubular roots. Two fibres (32-nm striation periodicity; system I fibres) closely underlie each of the 2-stranded roots, while different fibres (150-nm striation periodicity; system II fibres) run parallel to the root microtubules, and are 150–200 nm more internally located. Female gametes have 4 system II fibres, 3 of which are combined into a compound fibre associated with one microtubular root, while the fourth fibre is associated with the opposite root. In male gametes only 2 system II fibres are present, each underlying one of the two 2-stranded roots. A special region of the plasmalemma of both gamete types about 0.5 mum away from the basal bodies and located between 2 adjacent microtubular roots is structurally specialized and acts as a mating structure in gametic fusion. The region is oval-shaped and up to I.I mum long with a maximum diameter of 0.7 mum. A continuous electron-dense boundary layer underlies the plasmalemma at the edges of the mating structure. In both gamete types the mating structure consists of a fuzzy layer of material underlying the plasmalemma and special granules (60 nm diameter) are associated with this layer on its cytoplasmic side. In addition diffuse material overlies the mating structure, especially in male gametes. The mating structure is connected to 3 different kinds of flagellar roots: the boundary layer is linked to a 2-stranded microtubular root and its associated system I fibre; the fuzzy layer of the mating structure is connected with a system II fibre; and in female gametes this is the compound system II fibre. The ultrastructural changes which occur after mixing the 2 gamete types have been followed. Mating structure activation involves contraction of system II fibres (change of striation periodicity to 100 nm), detachment of special granules from the fuzzy layer of the mating structure and their replacement by electron-transparent vesicles at the prospective cell fusion site. Furthermore, release of electron-dense contents from Golgi-derived vesicles in the anterior part of both gamete types precedes cell fusion. Cell fusion is exclusively initiated in a region delimited by the 2 mating structures. After partial dissolution the 2 plasma membranes unite within the mating structure regions. The ultrastructure of gametic fusion in Ulva lactuca is compared to that of other green algae and the significance of flagellar roots in the mating process of green algae is discussed.

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Freeze-Fracture Replication in the Ultrastructure of Blue-Green Algae

Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America ◽

10.1017/s0424820100060386 ◽

1967 ◽

Vol 25 ◽

pp. 74-75

Author(s):

L. V. Leak

Keyword(s):

Cell Wall ◽

Electron Microscope ◽

Green Algae ◽

Three Dimensional ◽

Freeze Fracture ◽

Electron Microscopic ◽

Photosynthetic Membranes ◽

Blue Green Algae ◽

Cell Biol ◽

Cellular Components

Electron microscopic observations of freeze-fracture replicas of Anabaena cells obtained by the procedures described by Bullivant and Ames (J. Cell Biol., 1966) indicate that the frozen cells are fractured in many different planes. This fracturing or cleaving along various planes allows one to gain a three dimensional relation of the cellular components as a result of such a manipulation. When replicas that are obtained by the freeze-fracture method are observed in the electron microscope, cross fractures of the cell wall and membranes that comprise the photosynthetic lamellae are apparent as demonstrated in Figures 1 & 2.A large portion of the Anabaena cell is composed of undulating layers of cytoplasm that are bounded by unit membranes that comprise the photosynthetic membranes. The adjoining layers of cytoplasm are closely apposed to each other to form the photosynthetic lamellae. Occassionally the adjacent layers of cytoplasm are separated by an interspace that may vary in widths of up to several 100 mu to form intralamellar vesicles.

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A Scanning Electron Microscopic Study of Pro-Vascular Cellular Morphology in Chaetophora Incressata

Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America ◽

10.1017/s0424820100119880 ◽

1985 ◽

Vol 43 ◽

pp. 638-639

Author(s):

A. E. Hotchkiss ◽

A. T. Hotchkiss ◽

R. P. Apkarian

Keyword(s):

Green Algae ◽

Vascular Plants ◽

Vascular System ◽

Higher Plants ◽

Wall Structure ◽

Electron Microscopic ◽

Physiological Processes ◽

Scanning Electron Microscopic Study ◽

Scanning Electron Microscopic ◽

Scanning Electron

Multicellular green algae may be an ancestral form of the vascular plants. These algae exhibit cell wall structure, chlorophyll pigmentation, and physiological processes similar to those of higher plants. The presence of a vascular system which provides water, minerals, and nutrients to remote tissues in higher plants was believed unnecessary for the algae. Among the green algae, the Chaetophorales are complex highly branched forms that might require some means of nutrient transport. The Chaetophorales do possess apical meristematic groups of cells that have growth orientations suggestive of stem and root positions. Branches of Chaetophora incressata were examined by the scanning electron microscope (SEM) for ultrastructural evidence of pro-vascular transport.

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