Assembly of Cellulose Synthesizing Complexes on the Plasma Membrane of Boodlea coacta

The assembly of cellulose synthesizing complexes (terminal complexes,TCs) on the plasma membrane of Boodlea coacta was investigatedduring the formation of both the matrix-rich layer (MRL) andfibril-rich layers (FRLs) of cell walls. The TCs appeared tobe located mostly within the outer leaflet of the plasma membrane,and were observed as elliptical protrusions consisting of manyparticles of about 9 nm in diameter. Their length varied from100 to 500 nm (average, 220 nm) during MRL formation and from100 to 860 nm (average, 360 nm) during FRL formation. A correlationwas found between the length of TCs and the microfibril widthin both MRL and FRL. On the E-face of the plasma membrane, numerous round protrusions(30–130 nm in diameter), consisting of many particles,8–10 nm in diameter, were also present. Their densitywas greater during FRL formation than during MRL formation.Some of these structures larger than 100 nm were associatedwith microfibril impressions and some appeared to be bound tothe TCs. These protrusions increased in number with Calcofluortreatment but decreased in number when the dye was removed fromthe culture medium. Thus, the TCs may be assembled from massesof particles aggregated on the outer surface of the plasma membrane,and may grow longer by incorporation of these masses. The appearanceof the longer TCs during FRL formation is probably due to thegreater density of these masses. (Received May 1, 1985; Accepted August 16, 1985)