Original scientific paper

Crystals and fibrils in chromoplast plastoglobules of Solanum capsicastrum fruit

Mercedes Wrischer ; Ruđer Bošković Institute, Department of Molecular Biology, PO Box 180, HR-10002 Zagreb, Croatia
Tatjana Prebeg ; Ruđer Bošković Institute, Department of Molecular Biology, PO Box 180, HR-10002 Zagreb, Croatia
Volker Magnus ; Ruđer Bošković Institute, Department of Molecular Biology, PO Box 180, HR-10002 Zagreb, Croatia
Nikola Ljubešić ; Ruđer Bošković Institute, Department of Molecular Biology, PO Box 180, HR-10002 Zagreb, Croatia

Abstract

The fine structure of the fibrils and crystals, associated with the chromoplast plastoglobules of ripening Solanum capsicastrum fruit, was investigated: (1) in thin sections of fixed tissue and (2) in isolates prepared from fresh tissue, subjected to negative staining and metal shadowing. Electron micrographs of thin sections, particularly when combined with TCH-Ag-proteinate staining, afforded particularly clear insights into the ultrastructure of the fibrils and their formation next to the plastoglobules, while the crystals were seen only in transverse section. In the negatively stained isolates, on the other hand, the crystals were well visible as elongated platelets, which could be as hort as 1 mm and only about 1.5 nm thick. They were occasionally aggregated into clusters with irregular outlines, about 2–3 mm in diameter. The crystals likely contained carotenoids and their structure was comparable to the large carotene crystals found in other plants.

Keywords

Solanum capsicastrum; fruit; cromoplast; plastoglobule; crystal; fibril

Hrčak ID:

17176

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/17176

Publication date:

20.10.2007.

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