THE STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION OF THE GOLGI-APPARATUS - A 100 YEARS OF QUESTIONS

Over the last century, the Golgi apparatus has attracted the attention of researchers world-wide. This highly variable and polymorphic organ elle plays a central role in intracellular membrane traffic. Not only does it receive all the secretory material and membrane synthesized by the endoplasmic reticulum and modifies these products by glycosylatio n, but also packages them and sends them in vesicular carriers to thei r correct destinations. It is also capable of the synthesis of complex polysaccharides used for building cell walls, a feature unique for hi gher plants. Yet, the current models of Golgi function are based on th ose established for yeast and mammalian cells and may not be completel y relevant to plants. This review is an attempt to summarize the curre nt knowledge of the plant Golgi apparatus and, where possible, to disc uss the applicability of the current models of Golgi function to the p lant cell.