Occurrence of structures with lysosome-like function in plant cells.

Abstract

EVIDENCE for the existence of bodies with a lysosome-like function in plant cells has been discussed by Gahan1. He and Maple observed that the terminal stage of xylem differentiation in root tips is accompanied by a change from a particulate to a diffuse distribution of acid phosphatase2. Sievers3 in an electron microscopic study of the rhizoid cells of Chara observed the presence of compartments in the cytoplasm containing what appeared to be the remains of various organelles. He concluded that these structures have a function analogous to the lysosomes of animal cells.