The compartmentation of genetic information is a fundamental feature of the eukaryotic cell. The metabolic capacity of a eukaryotic (plant) cell and the steps leading to it are overwhelmingly an endeavour of a joint genetic cooperation between nucleus/cytosol, plastids, and mitochondria. Alter ation of the genetic material in anyone of these compartments or exchange of organelles between species can seriously affect harmoniously balanced growth of an organism. Although the biological significance of this genetic design has been vividly evident since the discovery of non-Mendelian inheritance by Baur and Correns at the beginning of this century, and became indisputable in principle after Renner's work on interspecific nuclear/plastid hybrids (summarized in his classical article in 1934), studies on the genetics of organelles have long suffered from the lack of respectabil ity. Non-Mendelian inheritance was considered a research sideline~ifnot a freak~by most geneticists, which becomes evident when one consults common textbooks. For instance, these have usually impeccable accounts of photosynthetic and respiratory energy conversion in chloroplasts and mitochondria, of metabolism and global circulation of the biological key elements C, N, and S, as well as of the organization, maintenance, and function of nuclear genetic information. In contrast, the heredity and molecular biology of organelles are generally treated as an adjunct, and neither goes as far as to describe the impact of the integrated genetic system.

THIS BOOK HAS BEEN WRITTEN BECAUSE WE FEEL THAT THERE IS A NEED FOR AN up-to-date compact book on cell organelles that transmits the excitement and challenge of modern subcellular biology. We hope that the book will be interesting and useful to students of the biological sciences and medicine, and to those in the teaching professions who do not have ready access to research papers. Since space is at a premium, we have denied ourselves the luxury of a philosophical discussion of the problems of defining organelles. Rather we have chosen to include all those intracellular structures which have limiting membranes and definable compartments. The separate chapters consider nuclei, plastids, mitochondria, microbodies, endoplasmic and sarcoplasmic reticulum; Golgi bodies, lysosomes and various secretory vesicles, including chromaffin granules and synaptic vesicles. Nucleoli, ribosomes, and centrioles are included in the chapter on nuclei. New and exciting informatioIi about all these structures has emerged in recent years-for example; the nUcleosome, interrupted genes, signal sequences on proteins destined. for the bioenergetic organelles, mapping and sequencing of organelle genes, and consolidation of chemiosmosis as a unifying principle in energy transduction. We have outlined as many of these developments as possible and pointed out some areas of controversy. The literature on subcellular biology is so extensive that it would have been easier to have written a separate book on each organelle.

Plant Cells and Their Organelles provides a comprehensive overview of the structure and function of plant organelles. The text focuses on subcellular organelles while also providing relevant background on plant cells, tissues and organs. Coverage of the latest methods of light and electron microscopy and modern biochemical procedures for the isolation and identification of organelles help to provide a thorough and up-to-date companion text to the field of plant cell and subcellular biology. The book is designed as an advanced text for upper-level undergraduate and graduate students with student-friendly diagrams and clear explanations.

The Biogenesis of Cellular Organelles represents a comprehensive summary of recent advances in the study of the biogenesis and functional dynamics of the major organelles operating in the eukaryotic cell. This book begins by placing the study of organelle biogenesis in a historical perspective by describing past scientific strategies, theories, and findings and relating these foundations to current investigations. Reviews of protein and lipid mediators important for organelle biogenesis are then presented, and are followed by summaries focused on the endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi, lysosome, nucleus, mitochondria, and peroxisome.

In 1976 I wrote a monograph on lysosomes (Lysosomes: A Survey, Springer Verlag, Vienna) that was intended as an up-to-date, comprehensive survey. Whatever success I may have achieved then in fulfilling that intention, even the effort now would be foolhardy. The literature has grown so rapidly in the past decade that I certainly could not even read all of the essential papers, let alone understand and analyze them. My goal here, therefore, is simply to introduce the major features of lysosomes at a level I hope will be useful both to I;ldvanced students and to researchers interested in obtaining a broad background. This is in keeping with the design of the Cellular Organelles series: the series is more a set of advanced texts than of review monographs. This design carries with it the decision not to support each point by refer ences to the original literature. I apologize for the injustice involved in such a decision but feel that in any event it would be impossibly unwieldy to cite, adequately and in a balanced manner, the contributions of the vast network of researchers responsible for the information upon which I draw.