2001/05/01 by John C. Gray, James A. Sullivan, Julian M. Hibberd +1 · 5 citations
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · Energy · Agricultural and Biological Sciences · #Photosynthetic Processes and Mechanisms #Algal biology and biofuel production #Plant Diversity and Evolution
paper · doi:10.1055/s-2001-15204
openalex publication_date 2001/05/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/21
Abstract: Stroma‐filled tubules, recently named stromules, extend from the surface of plastids in most cell types and plant species examined. Stromules are highly dynamic structures, continuously and rapidly changing shape. They have been shown to interconnect plastids and permit the exchange of green fluorescent protein (GFP) between plastids. Stromules are enclosed by the inner and outer plastid envelope membranes and are 0.4 ‐ 0.8 μm in diameter and up to 65 μm long. Movement of stromules is dependent on the actin cytoskeleton and the ATPase activity of myosin. Stromules are more abundant in cells containing a relatively small plastid volume and provide a means of enormously increasing the plastid surface area. Many important questions on the structure, function and mobility of stromules remain unanswered.