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Analysis of Lignin Composition and Distribution Using Fluorescence Laser Confocal Microspectroscopy

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Book cover Xylem

Part of the book series: Methods in Molecular Biology ((MIMB,volume 1544))

Abstract

Lignin is a polyphenolic polymer specifically accumulating in the cell walls of xylem cells in higher vascular plants. Far from being homogeneous, the lignification of xylem cell walls varies in deposition site, quantity, composition and macromolecular conformation depending on the cell wall compartment, cell type, cell developmental stage and plant species. Here, we describe how confocal microspectroscopy methods using lignin autofluorescence can be used to evaluate the relative lignin amounts, its spatial distribution and composition at the cellular and sub-cellular levels in both isolated cells and histological cross-sections of plant tissues.

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Acknowledgment

This work was supported by Vetenskapsrådet VR (grant 2010-4620 to E.P.), the BioImprove FORMAS (to E.P.), the Berzelii Centre for Forest Biotechnology (to D.M. and E.P.), by the Kempe Foundation (Gunnar Öquist Fellowship to E.P.), by the Carl Tryggers Foundation and by the Stiftelsen för Strategisk Forskning (ValueTree) to E.P. We also thank the Swedish research council Vetenskapsrådet and the Swedish Governmental Agency for Innovation Systems Vinnova (UPSC Berzelii Centre) and Bio4Energy (a strategic research environment appointed by the Swedish government).

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Correspondence to Edouard Pesquet .

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Decou, R., Serk, H., Ménard, D., Pesquet, E. (2017). Analysis of Lignin Composition and Distribution Using Fluorescence Laser Confocal Microspectroscopy. In: de Lucas, M., Etchhells, J. (eds) Xylem. Methods in Molecular Biology, vol 1544. Humana Press, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-6722-3_17

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-6722-3_17

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  • Publisher Name: Humana Press, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4939-6720-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4939-6722-3

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