82. Mueller, S. C. and R. M. Brown, Jr.
1980. Evidence for an intramembranous component associated with
a cellulose microfibril synthesizing complex in higher plants.
J. Cell Biol. 84:315-326.
82. Abstract
Freeze-fracture of rapidly frozen, untreated
plant cells reveals terminal complexes on E-fracture faces and
intramembrane particle rosettes on P-fracture faces. Terminal
complexes and rosettes are associated with the ends of individual
microfibril impressions on the plasma membrane. In addition,
terminal complexes and rosettes are associated with the impressions
of new orientations of microfibrils. These structures are sparse
within pit fields where few microfibril impressions are observed,
but are abundant over adjacent impressions of microfibrils. It
is proposed that intramembrane rosettes function in association
with terminal complexes to synthesize microfibrils. The presence
of a cellulosic microfibril system in Zea mays root segments
is confirmed by degradation experiments with Trichoderma
cellulase.