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The gamma body: A vesicle generating structure
Author(s) -
Olson Lauritz W.,
Lange Lene
Publication year - 1983
Publication title -
nordic journal of botany
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.333
H-Index - 33
eISSN - 1756-1051
pISSN - 0107-055X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1756-1051.1983.tb01478.x
Subject(s) - vesicle , biology , spore , vacuole , microtubule , biophysics , microbiology and biotechnology , botany , membrane , biochemistry , cytoplasm
Gamma bodies, which are present in the sporangia and gametangia of Allomyces and in its spores, are interpreted as constituting vesicle generating structures. During spore cleavage the mobilization–decay of the gamma bodies leads to vesicle formation; the vesicles appear to fuse to form the axonemal and plasma membrane of the spore. Vesicle formation by the gamma bodies during spore cleavage can be perturbed by phosphate buffer which leads to the formation of myelin–figure arrays of membranes, or by colchicine and benomyl which give rise to large vacuolar structures after gamma body decay. During the motile period of the spores of Allomyces , mobilization of the gamma bodies leads to vacuole formation and the resulting vacuoles fuse with the plasma membrane of the spore and by this means maintain the osmotic balance of the spore. During spore encystment the gamma body decays and forms vesicles which fuse with the plasma membrane of the cyst; these vesicles appear to be instrumental in chitin wall synthesis.