Physiological Notes: II. Contributions to the Theory of the Cell. a) Energids and Cells

The concept of the energid (which refers to “energy,” or “vital force”; in modern terms, adenosine triphosphate, ATP) is that the smallest unity of life is the nucleus and the amount of protoplasm the nucleus can “control” metabolically. The concept of the cell as a nucleus-protoplasm “unit” confined by either a cell membrane or cell wall (e.g., mammalian or land plant cells) is rejected. Examples of multinucleate organisms such as coenocytic algae are presented as “proof of concept” of the energid. [Abstract and keywords not in original.]

1. Friedrich (Carl Johann) Schmitz (1850–1895), German botanist, who discovered nuclei and other organelles in the cells of fungi and algae.

2. According to Sachs (1892), the term energid refers to “energy” or “vital forces.” We suggest that Sachs envisioned cell metabolism, driven by the molecule adenosine triphosphate (ATP), discovered decades later, when he wrote his classical article.

Authors and Affiliations

1. Würzburg, Germany

   Julius Sachs

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Translated by Ulrich Kutschera¹ and Karl J. Niklas²: ¹I-Cultiver, Inc., Treasure Island, San Francisco, CA, USA; ²The School of Integrative Plant Science, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA. Email: kjn2@cornell.edu. This article is the first English translation of “Physiologische Notizen. II. Beiträge zur Zellentheorie. a) Energiden und Zellen” (Flora 75:57–67, 1892) by Julius Sachs. The original German version is available as electronic supplementary material to the companion essay by Niklas and Kutschera (https://doi.org/10.1007/s13752-022-00400-6).

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