Main description:

Since the publication of my monograph "Die submikroskopische Struktur des Cytoplasm as" [Protoplasmatologia III A12 (1955)], science has increased our knowledge on this cell constituent in an amazing way. At that time, cytoplasm was still considered as an amorphous colloid with an amicroscopic structure capable of sol/gel transformations. Meanwhile, within the past 18 years, ultrastructure research and molecular biology have shown that it consists of structured organelles, thereby revolutionizing our concept of the cytoplasm. There is an ontogeny of these organelles which deals with their appearance, development, growth and eventual disappearance. Although the results of relevant studies are less spectacular at this time than those concerning nucleic acids, they will become more and more important in the near future, because they touch the basic question of how molecular morphogenesis is realized. Therefore, an attempt is made to portray the actual state of these problems from a biological point of view which involves a comparison of the established organelles. I thank Miss SONIA TURLER and Dr. ELsA HAUSERMANN for their help with the manuscript and my former pupils and assistants Drs. Kopp, KUHN, SCHWARZENBACH, STAEHELIN, STEINMANN, and VOGEL, as well as my colleagues Professors MATILE, MooR, and MUHLETHALER for original electron micro graphs.

Contents:

Introduction: "Organellography".- 1. Plasmalemma (PL).- 1.1. Ultrastructure.- 1.2. Dynamics.- 1.3. Growth.- 1.4. Functions.- 1.4.1. Resorption.- 1.4.2. Elimination.- 1.4.3. Protection.- 1.5. Derivatives of the PL Membrane.- 1.5.1. Myelin Sheath.- 1.5.2. Thylakoids.- 2. Golgi Apparatus (GA).- 2.1. Ultrastructure.- 2.2. Ontogeny.- 2.3. Functions.- 2.3.1. Regulation of the Cellular Water Content.- 2.3.2. Accumulation of Carbohydrates.- 2.3.3. Secretion of the Cell Wall Matrix.- 2.3.3.1. Cell Plate.- 2.3.3.2. Cell Wall Growth.- 2.3.4. Secretion of Slime and Exoenzymes.- 2.3.5. Solid Secretions.- 2.3.6. Translocation.- 2.4. Identity with the Plasmalemma.- 2.4.1. Homology.- 2.4.2. Analogy.- 2.4.3. Identity.- 3. Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER).- 3.1. Ultrastructure.- 3.1.1. ER Membrane.- 3.1.2. Nuclear Envelope.- 3.2. Ontogeny.- 3.3. Problematic Homologies.- 3.4. ER and PL Membranes.- 3.5. Functions.- 3.5.1. Synthesis of Proteins.- 3.5.2. Intracellular Translocation and Nutrition.- 3.5.3. Formation of Metabolic Centres.- 3.5.3.1. Spherosomes.- 3.5.3.2. Lysosomes.- 3.5.3.3. Vacuoles (Tonoplast).- 3.5.3.4. Peroxisomes.- 3.5.4. Review.- 3.6. Derivatives of the ER Membrane.- 3.7. Survey of Membrane Metamorphosis.- 4. Undulipodia and Centrioles.- 4.1. Ultrastructure.- 4.1.1. Flagella and Cilia.- 4.1.2. Terminology.- 4.1.3. Basal Body.- 4.1.4. Centrioles.- 4.2. Ontogeny.- 4.2.1. Formation of Flagella and Photoreceptor Organelles.- 4.2.2. Hispid Flagella.- 4.2.3. De novo Formation of Centrioles.- 4.3. Autoreproduction.- 4.3.1. Diplosomes.- 4.3.2. Cilia.- 4.4. Functions.- 4.4.1. Undulipodia.- 4.4.2. Kinetosome.- 4.4.3. Role of the Centriole.- 5. Microtubules (MT).- 5.1. Ultrastructure.- 5.2. Biochemistry.- 5.3. Origin.- 5.4. P-Protein in Sieve Tubes.- 5.5. Functions.- 5.5.1. Translocation.- 5.5.2. Cytoskeleton.- 5.5.3. Cytomotility.- 5.5.3.1. Filaments.- 5.5.4. Morphogenesis.- 5.6. Homonymy.- 6. Retrospect.- Author Index.