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Distribution of pectins in cell walls of maize coleoptiles and evidence against their involvement in auxin-induced extension growth

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Summary

Aiming to elucidate the possible involvement of pectins in auxin-mediated elongation growth the distribution of pectins in cell walls of maize coleoptiles was investigated. Antibodies against defined epitopes of pectin were used: JIM 5 recognizing pectin with a low degree of esterification, JIM 7 recognizing highly esterified pectin and 2F4 recognizing a pectin epitope induced by Ca2+. JIM 5 weakly labeled the outer third of the outer epidermal wall and the center of filled cell corners in the parenchyma. A similar labeling pattern was obtained with 2F4. In contrast, JIM 7 densely labeled the whole outer epidermal wall except the innermost layer, the middle lamellae, and the inner edges of open cell corners in the parenchyma. Enzymatic de-esterification with pectin methylesterase increased the labeling by JIM 5 and 2F4 substantially. A further increase of the labeling density by JIM 5 and 2F4 and an extension of the labeling over the whole outer epidermal wall could be observed after chemical de-esterification with alkali. This indicates that both methyl- and other esters exist in maize outer epidermal walls. Thus, in the growth-controlling outer epidermal wall a clear zonation of pectin fractions was observed: the outermost layer (about one third to one half of wall thickness) contains unesterified pectin epitopes, presumably cross-linked by Ca2+ extract. Tracer experiments with3H-myo-inositol showed rapid accumulation of tracer in all extractable pectin fractions and in a fraction tightly bound to the cell wall. A stimulatory effect of IAA on tracer incorporation could not be detected in any fraction. Summarizing the data a model of the pectin distribution in the cell walls of maize coleoptiles was developed and its implications for the mechanism of auxin-induced wall loosening are discussed.

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Abbreviations

CDTA:

trans-1,2-diaminocyclohexane-N,N,N′,N′-tetraacetic acid

CWP:

cell-wall pellet

IAA:

indole-3-acetic acid

LSE:

low-salt extract

TCA:

trichloroacetic acid; Tris tris-(hydroxy-methyl)aminoethane

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institut für Biologie II, Universität Freiburg, Schänzlestrasse 1, D-79104, Freiburg, Federal Republic of Germany

    T. M. Schindler, R. Bergfeld, D. v. Sengbusch & P. Schopfer

  2. Département de Biologie, Unité de Biotechnologie Théorique, Facultés Universitaires Notre-Dame de la Paix, Namur

    P. Van Cutsem

Authors
  1. T. M. Schindler
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  2. R. Bergfeld
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  3. P. Van Cutsem
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  4. D. v. Sengbusch
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  5. P. Schopfer
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Schindler, T.M., Bergfeld, R., Van Cutsem, P. et al. Distribution of pectins in cell walls of maize coleoptiles and evidence against their involvement in auxin-induced extension growth. Protoplasma 188, 213–224 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01280373

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01280373

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