What is Stromule?
A '''stromule''' is a [[microscopy|microscopic]] structure found in [[plant cell]]s. Stromules (stroma-filled tubules) are highly dynamic structures extending from the surface of all [[plastid]]s, including [[chloroplast]]s. Protrusions from and interconnections between plastids were seen in 1888 and 1908, and have been described from time to time in the literature since then.<ref>Haberlandt, Gottlieb 1888. Die Chlorophyllkörper der Selaginellen. ''Flora'' '''71''', 291-308.</ref><ref>Senn, Gustav 1908. ''Die Gestalts- und Lageveränderung der Pflanzen-Chromatophoren''. Leipzig: Wilhelm Engelmann Verlag.</ref><ref>Kwok E.Y and Hanson M.R. 2004. Stromules and the dynamic nature of plastid morphology. ''Journal of Microscopy'' '''214''', 124-137. {{doi|10.1111/j.0022-2720.2004.01317.x}}.</ref><ref>Gray J.C. ''et al'' 2001. Stromules: mobile protrusions and interconnections between plastids. ''Plant Biology'', '''3''', (3), 223-233. {{doi|10.1055/s-2001-15204}}</ref> Stromules were recently rediscovered in 1997.<ref name=Köhler>Köhler R.H. ''et al'' 1997. Exchange of protein molecules through connections between higher plant plastids. ''Science'' '''276''' (5321): 2039–42. [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9197266]</ref> They exist in a number of [[angiosperm]] species including ''[[Arabidopsis thaliana]]'', [[wheat]], [[rice]] and [[tomato]], but their role is not yet fully understood.<ref name=waters>Waters, Mark; Rupert G. Fray & Kevin A. Pyke 2004. Stromule formation is dependent upon plastid size, plastid differentiation status and the density of plastids within the cell. ''Plant Journal'' '''39''' (4): 655–67. [http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1365-313X.2004.02164.x/full]</ref> == References == {{reflist}} [[Category:Organelles]] [[Category:Plant physiology]]