Comparisons of Golgi structure and dynamics in plant and animal cells

The Golgi apparatus of both higher plant and animal cells sorts and packages macromolecules which are in transit to and from the cell surface and to the lysosome (vacuole). It is also the site of oligosaccharide and polysaccharide synthesis and modification. The underlying similarity of function of plant and animal Golgi is reflected in similar morphological features, such as cisternal stacking. There are, however, several fundamental differences between the Golgi of plant and animal cells, reflecting, in large part, the fact that the extracellular matrices and lysosomal systems differ between these kingdoms. These include 1) the form and replication of the Golgi during cell division; 2) the disposition of the Golgi in the interphase cell; 3) the nature of "anchoring" the Golgi in the cytoplasm; 4) the genesis, extent, and nature of membranes at the trans side of the stack; 5) targeting signals to the lysosome (vacuole); and 6) physiological regulation of secretion events (constitutive vs. regulated secretion). The degree of participation of the Golgi in endocytosis and membrane recycling is becoming clear for animal cells, but has yet to be explored in detail for plant cells.