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Lead Stress Disrupts the Cytoskeleton Organization and Cell Wall Construction During Picea wilsonii Pollen Germination and Tube Growth

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Abstract

Lead is a widespread pollutant and has been reported to inhibit pollen tube development, but the mechanism of toxicity involved remains unclear. Here, we report that lead stress significantly prevented Picea wilsonii pollen germination and tube growth and also dramatically altered the tube morphology in a concentration-dependent manner. Fluorescence labeling with JIM 5 (anti-acidic pectin antibody) and Calcofluor white revealed the lead-induced decline of acidic pectin and cellulose, especially in the subapical region. Decolorized aniline blue staining showed the marked accumulation of callose in the apical and subapical regions of lead-treated tubes. Fluorescence labeling with Alexa Fluor 568 phalloidin and anti-tubulin antibody revealed that the distribution of the cytoskeleton in P. wilsonii pollen grains and tubes were developmentally regulated and that lead disturbed the cytoskeleton organization, especially in the shank of the pollen tubes. Taken together, our experiments revealed a link between the dynamics of cytoskeleton organization and the process of P. wilsonii pollen tube development and also indicated that lead disturbed the cytoskeleton assembly and, consequently, cell wall construction. These findings provide new insights into the mechanism of lead toxicity in the tip growth of pollen tubes.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 30700039).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Life Sciences, Capital Normal University, North Xisanhuan 105, Beijing, 100048, China

    Xianyong Sheng, Shasha Zhang, Liping Jiang, Yuan Gao & Xue Li

  2. Key Laboratory of Molecular Physiology, Institute of Botany, The Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100093, China

    Xianyong Sheng

  3. Department of Chemistry, Capital Normal University, Beijing, 100048, China

    Kai Li

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  1. Xianyong Sheng
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  2. Shasha Zhang
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  3. Liping Jiang
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  4. Kai Li
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  5. Yuan Gao
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Correspondence to Xianyong Sheng.

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Xianyong Sheng and Shasha Zhang are co-first authors.

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Sheng, X., Zhang, S., Jiang, L. et al. Lead Stress Disrupts the Cytoskeleton Organization and Cell Wall Construction During Picea wilsonii Pollen Germination and Tube Growth. Biol Trace Elem Res 146, 86–93 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-011-9212-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-011-9212-9

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