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Arrested development in Fucus spiralis (Phaeophyceae) germlings exposed to copper

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 November 1999

Peter R. Bond ,
Murray T. Brown ,
Roy M. Moate ,
Martha Gledhill ,
Stephen J. Hill  and
Malcolm Nimmo
Peter R. Bond*
Affiliation:
Department of Biological Sciences, University of Plymouth, Plymouth PL4 8AA, UK
Murray T. Brown
Affiliation:
Department of Biological Sciences, University of Plymouth, Plymouth PL4 8AA, UK
Roy M. Moate
Affiliation:
Department of Biological Sciences, University of Plymouth, Plymouth PL4 8AA, UK
Martha Gledhill
Affiliation:
Department of Biological Sciences, University of Plymouth, Plymouth PL4 8AA, UK
Stephen J. Hill
Affiliation:
Department of Biological Sciences, University of Plymouth, Plymouth PL4 8AA, UK
Malcolm Nimmo
Affiliation:
Department of Biological Sciences, University of Plymouth, Plymouth PL4 8AA, UK
*
Correspondence to: Peter Bond, Plymouth Electron Microscopy Centre, University of Plymouth, Drake Circus, Plymouth, Devon PL4 8AA, UK. Tel/fax: +44 (0) 1752 233092. e-mail: pbond@plymouth.ac.uk
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Abstract

Exposure of Fucus spiralis germlings to precise copper concentrations (0 to 844 nM Cu2+) in chemically defined medium demonstrated a relationship between ultrastructural changes and growth retardation with increasing copper concentration. Electron-translucent vesicles, present in ova, which normally disappear after fertilization, accumulated in germlings exposed to Cu2+ above 10·6 nM, suggesting that copper may inhibit a metabolic pathway involved in cell wall formation which is initiated by fertilization. No membrane damage was observed during the exposure period. During a post-exposure period in copper-free medium, recovery occurred (rhizoid extension, apical hair formation) in germlings previously exposed to concentrations below 106 nM Cu2+ and electron-translucent vesicles became granular and disappeared. It is proposed that the electron-translucent vesicles contain a cell wall precursor and that copper inhibits its incorporation into the cell wall, preventing growth and development of the zygote.

Keywords

copperelectron-translucent vesiclesFucus spiralisgermlingsultrastructure
Type
Research Article
Information
European Journal of Phycology , Volume 34 , Issue 5 , November 1999 , pp. 513 - 521
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1999

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