Skip to main content
Log in

Concanavalin A binds to the endoplasmic reticulum and the starch grain surface of root statocytes

  • Published:
Planta Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Using Concanavalin A (Con A) labeled with fluorescein isothiocyanate, we studied the intracellular localization of receptor molecules in the calyptra of 24-h dark-grown cress roots. Fixation in glutaraldehyde gave positive binding of the distal complex of the endoplasmic reticulum and the nucelus in the statocytes. In contrast, fixation in formaldehyde did not preserve the membrane-associated receptors, but revealed Con A affinity of the starch grain surface within the amyloplasts. Treatment of glutaraldehydefixed sections with non-ionic detergents led to partial solubilization of membrane components: the starch grain surface turned positive, though the positive binding of Con A to the endoplasmic reticulum and the nucleus remained unaffected. We therefore conclude that the Con A receptor in the membrane is a glycoprotein tightly inserted in other components of the compartment.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

Abbreviations

Con A:

Concanavalin A

ER:

endoplasmic reticulum

FITC:

fluorescein isothiocyanate

NP 40:

nonidet P40

References

  • Bittiger, H., Schnebli, H.P. (1976) Concanavalin A as a tool. John Wiley and Sons, London New York Sydney Toronto

    Google Scholar 

  • Caspers, L., Sievers, A. (1979) Stratification of root statocytes by centrifugation and subsequent regeneration of cell polarity: influence on graviresponse. Eur. J. Cell Biol. 20, 119

    Google Scholar 

  • Edelman, G.M., Cunningham, B.A., Reeke, G.N. jr., Becker, J.W., Waxdal, M.J., Wang, J.L. (1972) The covalent and three dimensional structure of concanavalin A. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 69, 2580–2584

    Google Scholar 

  • Helenius, A., Simons, K. (1975) Solubilization of membranes by detergents. Biochim. Biophys. Acta 415, 29–79

    Google Scholar 

  • Katz, F.N., Rothman, J.E., Lingappa, V.R., Blobel, G., Lodish, H.F. (1977) Membrane assembly in vitro: synthesis, glycosylation, and asymmetric insertion of a transmembrane protein. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 74, 3278–3282

    Google Scholar 

  • Laurila, P., Virtanen, I., Wartiovaara, J., Stenman, S. (1978) Fluorescent antibodies and lectins stain intracellular structures in fixed cells treated with nonionic detergent. J. Histochem. Cytochem. 26, 251–257

    Google Scholar 

  • Lis, H., Sharon, N. (1973) The biochemistry of plant lectins (phytohemagglutinins). Annu. Rev. Biochem. 42, 541–574

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Morré, D.J., Jones, D.D., Mollenhauer, H.H. (1967) Golgi apparatus mediated polysaccharide secretion by outer root cap cells of Zea mays. I. Kinetics and secretory pathway. Planta 74, 286–301

    Google Scholar 

  • Nowell, P. (1960) Phytohemagglutinin: an initiator of mitosis in cultures of normal human leukocytes. Cancer Res. 20, 462–466

    Google Scholar 

  • Pearlstein, E., Seaver, J. (1976) Non-lytic, non-ionic detergent extraction of plasma membrane constituents from normal and transformed fibroblasts. Biochim. Biophys. Acta 426, 589–597

    Google Scholar 

  • Petris, de, S., Raff, M.C. (1974) Ultrastructural distribution and redistribution of alloantigens and concanavalin A receptors on the surface of mouse lymphocytes. Eur. J. Immunol. 4, 130–137

    Google Scholar 

  • Schneider, E.M., Becker, J.U., Volkmann, D. (1981) Biochemical properties of potato phosphorylase change with its intracellular localization as revealed by immunological methods. Planta 151, 124–134

    Google Scholar 

  • Sharon, N. (1974) Glycoproteins of higher plants. In: Plant carbohydrate biochemistry, pp. 235–252, Pridham, J.B., ed., Academic Press, London New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Shou, L., Schwartz, S.A., Good, R.A. (1976) Suppressor cell activity after concanavalin A treatment of lymphocytes from normal donors. J. Exp. Med. 143, 1100–1110

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sievers, A., Volkmann, D. (1972) Verursacht differentieller Druck der Amyloplasten auf ein komplexes Endomembransystem die Geoperzeption in Wurzeln? Planta 102, 162–172

    Google Scholar 

  • Struck, D.K., Lennarz, W.J. (1980) The function of saccharidelipids in synthesis of glycoproteins. In: The biochemistry of glycoproteins and proteoglycans, pp. 35–83, Lennarz, W.J., ed., Plenum Press, New York London

    Google Scholar 

  • Toneguzzo, F., Ghosh, H.P. (1978) In vitro synthesis of vesicular stomatitis virus membrane glycoprotein and insertion into membranes. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 75, 715–719

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Volkmann, D. (1981) Structural differentiation of membranes involved in the secretion of polysaccharide slime by root cap cells of cress (Lepidium sativum L.) Planta 151, 180–188

    Google Scholar 

  • Volkmann, D., Sievers, A. (1979) Graviperception in multicellular organs. In: Encyclopedia of plant physiology, vol. 7, pp. 573–600, Haupt, W., Feinleib, M.E., eds., Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Schneider, E.M., Sievers, A. Concanavalin A binds to the endoplasmic reticulum and the starch grain surface of root statocytes. Planta 152, 177–180 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00385141

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00385141

Key words

Navigation