Membrane particle arrays associated with the basal body and with contractile vacuole secretion in Chlamydomonas.

Abstract

Freeze-fracture replicas reveal that five distinct types of intramembranous particle arrays coexist within a small sector of the C. reinhardtii cell flagellar membrane. Of these, three are newly described in this report. (a) Flagellar bracelets, which encircle the flagellar bases, appear to be intrinsically ordered strands of particles of unknown function. (b) Strut arrays, representing nine sites where the basal body attaches to the membrane, appear to serve a mechanical function. (c) Contractile vacuole arrays, which develop into circular plaques of particles, appear to serve as "membrane gates" through which water is discharged from the cell.