Mechanical Wounding Induces the Formation of Extensive Coated Membranes in Giant Algal Cells

Mechanically wounding giant cells of Boergesenia forbesii induces the formation of bristle-coated, plasma-membrane invaginations (coated pits) and coated vesicles, easily providing a plentiful source of coated membranes in a clean cellular system unencumbered by other tissues. Contractions evoked by wounding partition the cytoplasm into hundreds of spherical protoplasts with approximately 40 percent less total plasma-membrane surface area than the original cell. Ferritin labeling and the appearance of numerous large coated pits and vesicles at the peak period of contraction indicate that these organelles play a role in extensive endocytosis of the plasma membrane.