Studies on the Structure and Function of Plant Glands

本研究的总体目标是了解植物盐腺的结构和功能。这些研究将使用透射电子显微镜、冷冻断裂电子显微镜、x射线显微探针研究和形态测量方法，并结合生理实验来评估腺体分泌的机制以及腺体的结构和组织特征，这些特征显然是腺体功能所必需的。假设膜转运是盐分泌的基本生理过程，目标是表征盐腺细胞的相关膜，特别是通量能力、选择性转运特性、选择性抑制剂的作用以及与分泌相关的大分子组织。由于不同腺体类型的比较超微结构研究继续推进我们对不同类型植物腺体分泌过程基本结构和功能关系的认识，这些比较研究将继续进行。进一步，研究将扩展到检查细胞的组织，细胞器，细胞室和膜在吸收过程中。本研究旨在阐明植物腺体在分泌和吸收过程中的结构和功能关系，并确定植物分泌细胞细胞膜的大分子组织。盐腺存在于多种高等植物的叶片中，被认为在调节叶片的离子平衡中起重要作用。本研究结果将有助于我们了解这些重要植物器官的结构和功能。

The overall goal of this research is to understand the structure and function of plant salt glands. These studies will use transmission electron microscopy, freeze-fracture electron microscopy, X-ray microprobe studies, and morphometric procedures, as correlated with physiological experiments to assess the mechanisms involved in secretion and the structural and organizational features of the glands apparently requisite for glandular function. Assuming that membrane transport is the fundamental physiological process underlying salt secretion, the goal is to characterize, as well as is presently possible, the pertinent membranes of salt gland cells, particularly as to flux capacities, selective transport properties, effects of selective inhibitors, and their macromolecular organization as related to secretion. Since comparative ultrastructural studies of the different gland types have continued to advance our insight into the structural and functional relationships basic to the secretory processes in different types of plant glands, these comparative studies will be continued. Further, studies will be expanded to examine the organization of cells, organelles, cell compartments, and membranes in regard to absorptive processes. The proposed research is designed to clarify the structural and functional relationships in plant glands relative to the processes of secretion and absorption and to determine the macromolecular organization of the cell membranes of plant secretory cells. Salt glands occur in the leaves of a wide variety of higher plants and are believed to be important in the regulation of the ionic balance of leaves. The results of this research will contribute to our understanding of the structure and function of these important plant organs.