The effects of brefeldin A upon the Golgi apparatus of the green algal flagellate,Gloeomonas kupfferi

The fungal-derived derivative, brefeldin A, was used to disrupt the Golgi apparatus (GA) of the green alga, Gloeomonas kupfferi. Upon short treatments (10 μg ml−1 for 10 min or less), the Golgi bodies maintain their perinuclear positioning. However, the medial locus transforms from a tight stack of elongate cisternae to a network of swollen tubules. Upon longer treatments (60 min), swelling and vesiculation of cis face cisternae become apparent. Likewise, the edges of several trans face cisternae may fuse with those of adjacent Golgi bodies leading to the formation of multiGolgi complexes.