Ester P. Lorences

Functional characterisation of Nicotiana tabacum xyloglucan endotransglycosylase (NtXET-1): generation of transgenic tobacco plants and changes in cell wall xyloglucan.

Abstract. To study the function of xyloglucan endotransglycosylase (XET) in vivo we isolated, a tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) XET cDNA (GenBank AA824986) from the homologous tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) clone named NtXET-1 (Accession no. D86730). The expression pattern revealed highest levels of NtXET-1 mRNA in organs highly enriched in vascular tissue. The levels of NtXET-1 mRNA decreased in midribs with increasing age of leaves. Increasing leaf age was correlated with an increase in the average molecular weight (MW) of xyloglucan (XG) and a decrease in the relative growth rates of leaves. Transgenic tobacco plants with reduced levels of XET activity were created to further study the biochemical consequences of reduced levels of NtXET-1 expression. In two independent lines, total XET activity could be reduced by 56% and 37%, respectively, in midribs of tobacco plants transformed with an antisense construct. The decreased activity led to an increase in the average MW of XG by at least 20%. These two lines of evidence argue for NtXET-1 being involved in the incorporation of small XG molecules into the cell wall by transglycosylation. Reducing the incorporation of small XG molecules will result in a shift towards a higher average MW. The observed reduction in NtXET-1 expression and increase in the MW of XG in older leaves might be associated with strengthening of cell walls by reduced turnover and hydrolysis of XG.

Effect of Xyloglucan Oligosaccharides on Growth, Viscoelastic Properties, and Long-Term Extension of Pea Shoots

The growth-promoting effect of xyloglucan-derived oligosaccharides was investigated using a bioassay with entire pea (Pisum sativum L., var Alaska) shoots. After a 24-h incubation period at 25[deg]C, xyloglucan oligosaccharide (XGO) solutions with concentrations of 10–6 M notably increased the growth rate of pea shoots, whereas the same oligosaccharides at 10–7 M were less effective. To investigate the possible correlation between growth rate changes in the XGO-treated shoots and changes in the wall mechanical properties of their growing regions (third internodes), we used a short-term creep assay. The promotion of elongation by XGOs was reflected in an enhancement of the viscoelasticity of the growing regions of the shoots. To show whether this effect on wall viscoelastic properties was the cause or a consequence of their growth promotion, we tested the effect of XGOs on the long-term extension of isolated cell walls. We characterized an acid-induced extension in isolated cell walls from pea shoots that was not inhibited by preincubation in neutral buffers. Exogenously added XGOs did not alter the pattern of pea segment extension at any pH tested, indicating that XGOs have no direct effect on cell wall viscoelasticity. Finally, preincubation of pea segments in neutral buffers with XGOs enhanced their capacity to extend under acidic conditions. This finding suggests that XGOs at a neutral pH can act via transglycosylation, weakening the wall matrix and making the wall more responsive to other mechanisms of acid-induced extension as an expansin-mediated extension.

Absolute measurement of cell expansion in plant cell suspension cultures

A method is described for the measurement of intracellular volume (Vi) in cell cultures. In principle, any stable compound that neither penetrates the plasma membrane nor binds to the cells can be used to trace the total extracellular (apoplastic) volume and hence to estimate the intracellular volume. No suitable coloured or UV-absorbing compound could be found among those tested; the main problems were binding to the cell surface and/or instability in the medium. However, [14C]mannitol was an acceptable apoplastic marker, by use of which we showed that 21–47% of total packed cell volume (PCV) was intracellular, and 14–33% of total settled cell volume (SCV) was intracellular. Therefore, measurements of PCV and SCV misrepresent cell expansion to a variable extent. Cultures of Acer, Rosa, Spinacia and Zea achieved final symplastic volumes of only ∼9, ∼14, ∼6 and ∼6%, respectively, of the total suspension culture volume.

Sequencing of xyloglucan oligosaccharides by partial Driselase digestion: the preparation and quantitative and qualitative analysis of two new tetrasaccharides.

The pentasaccharide (XXG), [formula: see text] obtained from Rosa xyloglucan, was converted to two isomeric tetrasaccharides, a and b (Xyl1.Glc3), by mild acid hydrolysis. During hydrolysis in 2 M trifluoroacetic acid at 90 degrees C, optimal yields of a and b were obtained after 20-40 min. Each tetrasaccharide was purified by preparative paper chromatography and high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC). The two isomers were distinguished by the products of their partial digestion with Driselase, which hydrolyses the glucosidic bonds sequentially from the non-reducing terminus: a and b yielded cellobiose and Xyl-->Glc-->Glc, respectively showing that they were [formula: see text] and [formula: see text] respectively. Tetrasaccharide b was chromatographically identical, upon HPLC on Dionex CarboPac PA1, with the tetrasaccharide produced from XXG by the action of Tropaeolum alpha-D-xylosidase, supporting the proposed structure. Xyloglucan oligosaccharides were assayed quantitatively by measurement of the yield of isoprimeverose (Xyl-->Glc) after complete Driselase digestion.