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Atomic force microscopy of microfibrils in primary cell walls

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Abstract

Examination of angiosperm primary cell walls by transmission electron microscopy shows that they contain microfibrils that probably consist of cellulose microfibrils surrounded by associated non-cellulosic polysaccharides. Previous studies using solid-state 13C NMR spectroscopy have shown that the cellulose is all crystalline with crystallites of cross-sectional dimensions of 2–3 nm. However, it is not known if each microfibril contains only one, or more than one crystallite because there is no agreement about the dimensions of the microfibrils. Partially hydrated primary cell walls isolated from onion (Allium cepa L.) and Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Heynh. were examined by atomic force microscopy and the microfibril diameters determined. The cell walls of both species contained tightly interwoven microfibrils of uniform diameter: 4.4±0.13 nm in the onion and 5.8±0.17 nm in A. thaliana. The effect was also examined of extracting the A. thaliana cell walls to remove pectic polysaccharides. The microfibrils in the extracted cell walls of A. thaliana were significantly narrower (3.2±0.13 nm) than those in untreated walls. The results are consistent with the microfibrils containing only one cellulose crystallite.

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Fig. 1.
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Abbreviations

AFM:

Atomic-force microscopy

CDTA:

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

TEM:

Transmission electron microscopy

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Acknowledgements

This research was supported by the Marsden Fund of the Royal Society of New Zealand (contract no. UOA 406). We thank the following from The University of Auckland: Mr K Goldie (School of Biological Sciences) and Dr R Haverkamp (School of Engineering) for assistance with the AFM; and Associate Prof. B McCardle (Statistics Department) for statistical assistance.

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  1. School of Biological Sciences, University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland, New Zealand

    Lynette M. Davies & Philip J. Harris

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  1. Lynette M. Davies
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  2. Philip J. Harris
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Correspondence to Philip J. Harris.

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Davies, L.M., Harris, P.J. Atomic force microscopy of microfibrils in primary cell walls. Planta 217, 283–289 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00425-003-0979-6

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