Summary
The chloroplast envelope ofBangia fusco-purpurea has been studied with freeze-etch technique and the conventional ultrathin sectioning method. Morphological differences between the fracture faces of the outer and inner membranes of the envelope can be recognized in replicas of freeze-etched specimens. The fracture faces of one membrane, the outer layer of the envelope, is smooth whereas the second, the inner membrane, appears to be wrinkled in the form of small ridges. The size and density of the particles on the fracture faces were analyzed and compared with those of the thylakoid membranes. Finally, the significance of the morphological differences between the two envelope membranes is discussed with respect to the relationship between various membrane systems of the chloroplast. The results of this work seem to support the endosymbiotic hypothesis of the origin of the chloroplast.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Arntzen, C. J., R. A. Dilley, andF. L. Crane, 1969: A comparison of chloroplast membrane surfaces visualized by freeze-etch and negative staining techniques; and ultrastructural characterization of membrane fractions obtained from digitonin-treated spinach chloroplast. J. Cell Biol.43, 16–31.
Branton, D., 1966: Fracture faces of frozen membranes. Proc. nat. Acad. Sci. (USA.)55, 1048–1056.
, andR. B. Park, 1967: Subunits in chloroplast lamellae. J. Ultrastruct. Res.19, 283–303.
Brody, M., andA. E. Vatter, 1959: Observations on cellular structures ofPorphyridium cruentum. J. Biophys. Biochem. Cytol.5, 289–294.
Brown, D. L., andT. E. Weier, 1970: Ultrastructure of the fresh water algaBatracho- spermum. I. Thin-section and freeze-etch analysis of juvenile and photosynthetic filament vegetative cells. Phycologia9, 217–235.
Dodge, J. D., 1968: The fine structure of chloroplasts and pyrenoids in some marine Dinoflagellates. J. Cell Sci.3, 41–48.
Gantt, E., andS. F. Conti, 1965: The ultrastructure ofPorphyridium cruentum. J. Cell Biol.26, 365–381.
Gibbs, S. P., 1962: The ultrastructure of the chloroplasts of algae. J. Ultrastruct. Res.7, 418–435.
, 1970: The comparative ultrastructure of the algal chloroplast. Ann. N. Y. Acad. Sci.175, 454–473.
Goodenough, U. W., andL. A. Staehelin, 1971: Structural differentiation of stacked and unstacked chloroplast membranes. Freeze-etch electron microscopy of wild-type and mutant strains ofChlamydomonas. J. Cell Biol.48, 594–619.
Guérin-Dumartrait, E., C. Sarda etA. Lacourly, 1970: Sur le structure fine du chloroplaste dePorphyridium sp. (Lewin). C. R. Acad. Sci. (Paris)270, 1977–1979.
Meyer, H. W., undH. Winkelmann, 1969: Die Gefrierätzung und die Struktur biologischer Membranen. Protoplasma68, 253–270.
Neushul, M., 1970: A freeze-etching study of the red algaPorphyridium. Amer. J. Bot.57, 1231–1239.
Racker, E., 1970: Membranes of mitochondria and chloroplasts. New York: Van Nostrand Reinhold.
Raven, P. H., 1970: A multiple origin for plastids and mitochondria. Science19, 641–646.
Ridley, S. M., andR. M. Leech, 1969: Chloroplast survivalin vitro. In: Progress in Photosynthesis Research Vol. I. pp. 229–244. (H. Metzner, ed.). Tübingen: H. Laupp, Jr.
Rosen, W. G., andK. A. Siegesmund, 1961: Some observations on the fine structure of a thermophilic, acidophilic alga. J. Biophysic. Biochem. Cytol.9, 910–914.
Schnepf, E., 1966: Organellen-Reduplikation und Zellkompartimentierung. In: Probleme der Biologischen Reduplikation, pp. 372–393. (P. Sitte, ed.). Berlin-Heidelberg-New York: Springer-Verlag.
Taylor, D. L., 1970: Chloroplasts as symbiotic organelles. In: (G. H.Bourne and J. F.Danielli, eds.), International Review of Cytology28, 29–64.
Walker, D. A., 1969: Permeability of the chloroplast envelope. In: Progress in Photosynthesis Research, Vol. I, pp. 250–257. (H. Metzner, ed.). Tübingen: H. Laupp, Jr.
Weier, T. E., andW. W. Thomson, 1962: Membranes of mesophyll cells ofNicotiana rustica andPhaseolus vulgaris with particular reference to the chloroplast. Amer. J. Bot.49, 807–820.
,A. H. P. Englebrecht, A. Harrison, andE. B. Risley, 1965: Subunits in the membranes of chloroplasts ofPhaseolus vulgaris, Pisum sativum, and Aspidistra sp. J. Ultrastruct. Res.13, 92–111.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
A project supported by National Research Council of Canada (Grant A-2288). We are indebted to Mrs. A. A.Bisalputra for her assistance in the preparation of the manuscript, to Mr. R. G.Thompson for the drawings of the illustrations.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Bisalputra, T., Bailey, A. The fine structure of the chloroplast envelope of a red alga,Bangia fusco-purpurea . Protoplasma 76, 443–454 (1973). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01279139
Received:
Revised:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01279139