Artefacts as a guide to the chemistry of the cell

Abstract

Artificial cells made from drops or films of mixtures containing protein (gelatine, egg white, and peptone), NaCl, lecithin (commercial), and methyl myristate, or laurate, were fixed and treated with osmic acid as for the Golgi apparatus. Globules of the myristate made the nucleus; the lecithin fixed at the surface of the globules as "coiled threads, loops, and small masses blackened with osmic acid''.'' resembled the Golgi apparatus. When yellow P was added (in solution in the laurate or myristate), blackening of the lecithin began to decrease, presumably as the unsaturated fatty acids became saturated. After 24 hrs. there were colorless structures having the appearance of vacuoles, sometimes with a few black granules in them. This appearance resembled that of cells from P poisoned guinea pigs (Cowdry) which showed disintegration of the Golgi apparatus.