Journal of Cell Science, Vol 3, 199-206, Copyright © 1968 by Company of Biologists

Submitted on September 27, 1967

Freeze-Etched Surfaces of Membranes and Organelles in the Cells of Pea Root Tips

¹ Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge

The structure of the inner and outer surfaces of the plasmalemma, the tonoplast and the membranes of the nucleus and endoplasmic reticulum have been investigated. The structure of the plasmalemma probably varies with the metabolic state of the cell, in particular with the synthesis and transport of material for cell-wall formation. The organization of the plasmalemma during the deposition of material in the wall by reverse pinocytosis is shown, and evidence is presented for the possible synthesis of the microfibrillar structure of the wall by synthetic units arranged as particles on and near the plasmalemma surface. A clear indication of substructure along the length of microtubules has been shown, and since views of large surface areas are possible the distribution of the microtubules at the cytoplasmic surface inside the plasmalemma has been revealed; they bound the cell by running around the circumference in one direction only. A definite organization of nuclear pores has been observed and the structure and shape of the pores is described. By the freeze-etch technique it is possible to investigate crystal-containing bodies, amyloplasts with starch grains and bundles of fibres in addition to mitochondria and Golgi bodies. The method also distinguishes certain spherical organelles by their characteristic surface appearance.