'Elaioplasts' identified as lipotubuloids in Althaea rosea, Funkia sieboldiana and Vanilla planifolia contain lipid bodies connected with microtubules

• Main Authors: Maria Kwiatkowska, Dariusz Stępiński, Katarzyna Popłońska, Agnieszka Wojtczak, Justyna Teresa Polit
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Polish Botanical Society 2011-09-01
• Series: Acta Societatis Botanicorum Poloniae
• Subjects: elaioplasts; immunogold technique; lipid bodies; lipotubuloids; microtubules; tubulin
• Online Access: https://pbsociety.org.pl/journals/index.php/asbp/article/view/224

"Elaioplasts" observed in Vanilla planifolia, Funkia Sieboldiana and Althaea rosea exhibit all the features characteristic of lipotubuloids earlier described in Ornithogalum umbellatum. They are cytoplasmic domains containing aggregates of lipid bodies connected with microtubules. The immunogold technique confirmed the presence of tubulin in this domain. These structures do not have their own membranes but they are surrounded by a tonoplast at the side of a vacuole since they invaginate into it. In cytoplasm of this domain among lipid bodies there are numerous ribosomes, ER cisternae and vesicles as well as few mitochondria, Golgi structures and microbodies while at older developmental stages there are also autolytic vacuoles. The fact that they are so similar to O. umbellatum lipotubuloids suggest that "elaioplasts" of V. planifolia, F. Sieboldiana and A. rosea can also be named lipotubuloids.