Catalase Is Differentially Expressed in Dividing and Nondividing Protoplasts

Based on our previous results that peroxidase is induced in dividing tobacco protoplasts but it is not expressed in the nondividing grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.) protoplasts during culture (C.I. Siminis, A.K. Kanellis, K.A. Roubelakis-Angelakis [1993] Physiol Plant 87: 263-270), we further tested the hypothesis that oxidative stress may be implicated in the recalcitrance of plant protoplasts. The expression of catalase, a major defense enzyme against cell oxidation, was studied during isolation and culture of mesophyll protoplasts from the recalcitrant grapevine and regenerating tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.). Incubation of tobacco leaf strips with cell wall-degrading enzymes resulted in a burst of catalase activity and an increase in its immunoreactive protein; in contrast, no such increases were found in grapevine. The cathodic and anodic catalase isoforms consisted exclusively of subunits [alpha] and [beta], respectively, in tobacco, and of subunits [beta] and [alpha], respectively, in grapevine. The catalase specific activity increased only in grapevine protoplasts during culture. The ratio of the enzymatic activities to the catalase immunoreactive protein declined in dividing tobacco protoplasts and remained fairly constant in nondividing tobacco and grapevine protoplasts during culture. Also, in dividing tobacco protoplasts the de novo accumulation of the catalase [beta] subunit gave rise to the acidic isoenzymes, whereas in nondividing tobacco and grapevine protoplasts, after 8 d in culture, only the basic isoenzymes remained due to de novo accumulation of the [alpha] subunit. The pattern of catalase expression in proliferating tobacco leaf cells during callogenesis was similar to that in dividing protoplasts. The different responses of catalase expression in dividing and nondividing tobacco and grapevine mesophyll protoplasts may indicate a specificity of catalase related to induction of totipotency.     

Modified culture conditions for increased viability and cell wall synthesis in grapevine (Vitis vinifera L. cv. Sultanina) leaf protoplasts

Studies were undertaken to determine optimum conditions for grapevine protoplast culture. Highest viability was obtained at 25° in the dark, and at initial pH values of 5.2 to 7.2, in the presence of 1 or 2% (w/v) sucrose and 0.6 or 0.7 M mannitol or osmolality between 729 and 930 mOsmol kg^-1. Optimum plant growth regulators were 6-BAP/NAA at 2.3×10^-6/10–15×10^-6 M, respectively. ³⁵S-Methionine incorporation into de novo synthesized proteins for protoplasts of Nicotiana tabacum cv Xanthi (a readily regenerating species) and for the recalcitrant grapevine was studied. In tobacco the rate of protein synthesis showed 3 maxima which coincided with the distinct stages of naked protoplasts, cell wall reconstitution and induction of cell division. In grapevine protoplasts the first peak exceeded the second one, whereas no peak corresponding to the induction of cell division was observed.     

Reduced activity of antioxidant machinery is correlated with suppression of totipotency in plant protoplasts

We previously showed that during protoplast isolation, an oxidative burst occurred and the generation of active oxygen species was differentially mediated in tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) and grapevine (Vitis vinifera), accompanied by significant quantitative differences (A.K. Papadakis, K.A. Roubelakis-Angelakis [1999] Plant Physiol 127: 197-205). We have now further tested if the expression of totipotency in protoplasts is related to the activity of cellular antioxidant machinery during protoplast culture. Totipotent (T) tobacco protoplasts had 2-fold lower contents of intracellular O2*- and H2O2 and 7-fold lower levels of O2*- and H2O2 in the culture medium, compared with non-totipotent (NT) tobacco protoplasts. Addition of alkaline dimethylsulfoxide, known to generate O2*-, resulted in isolation of tobacco protoplasts with reduced viability and cell division potential during subsequent culture. Active oxygen species levels decreased in tobacco and grapevine protoplasts during culturing, although higher contents of O2*- and H2O2 were still found in NT- compared with T-tobacco protoplasts, after 8 d in culture. In T-tobacco protoplasts, the reduced forms of ascorbate and glutathione predominated, whereas in NT-tobacco and grapevine protoplasts, the oxidized forms predominated. In addition, T-tobacco protoplasts exhibited severalfold lower lipid peroxidation than NT-tobacco and grapevine protoplasts. Furthermore, several antioxidant enzyme activities were increased in T-tobacco protoplasts. Superoxide dismutase activity increased in tobacco, but not in grapevine protoplasts during culturing due to the increased expression of cytoplasmic Cu/Zn-superoxide dismutase. The increase was only sustained in T-tobacco protoplasts for d 8. Together, these results suggest that suppressed expression of totipotency in protoplasts is correlated with reduced activity of the cellular antioxidant machinery.     

Ultrastructural and biochemical aspects of cell wall reconstitution in recalcitrant (grapevine) and regenerating (tobacco) leaf protoplasts

Summary To identify possible reasons that may contribute to recalcitrance in plant protoplasts, the time course of new cell wall deposition was studied by scanning electron microscopy in protoplasts of a recalcitrant species, the grapevine. Results showed that microfibrils were developed after 2 days of culture, that complete cell wall formation occurred on Day 6 to 7 of protoplast culture, and its ultrastructural appearance was identical to that of grapevine leaf-derived callus cells. In addition, a comparative study was undertaken on [U-¹⁴C]glucose uptake and incorporation in ethanol-soluble, cellulosic, and noncellulosic polysaccharide fractions in protoplasts of grapevine and of a readily regenerating species, tobacco, during culture. There was a significantly higher [U-¹⁴C]glucose uptake by tobacco than by grapevine protoplasts. The label distribution in the ethanol-soluble, cellulosic, and noncellulosic fractions of newly synthesized cell walls differed quantitatively between the two species. In particular, the labeled glucose incorporated in the noncellulosic cell wall fraction was threefold greater in tobacco than in grapevine protoplasts. Differences were also revealed in the monosaccharide composition of this fraction between the two species. Addition of dimethyl sulfoxide to the culture medium resulted in a dramatic increase in [U-¹⁴C]glucose uptake by grapevine protoplasts, whereas it exhibited a limited effect in tobacco protoplasts. It showed no effect on the ultrastructural characteristics of new cell wall nor on the incorporation rate of labeled glucose in the cellulosic and noncellulosic cell wall fractions.     

Plasmalemma hyperpolarity and culture of sense and antisense abp transgenic tobacco protoplasts

Ａｕｘｉｎｉｓａｔｙｐｅｏｆｐｌａｎｔｈｏｒｍｏｎｅｅｘｉｓｔｉｎｇｅｘｔｅｎｓｉｖｅｌｙ[1].Ｉｔｒｅｇｕｌａｔｅｓｍａｎｙｐｒｏｃｅｓｓｅｓｉｎｐｌａｎｔｄｅｖｅｌｏｐｍｅｎｔ[2,3].Ａｃｃｏｒｄｉｎｇｔｏｔｈｅ“ａｃｉｄｇｒｏｗｔｈｔｈｅｏｒｙ”,ａｕｘｉｎｓｔｉｍｕｌａｔｅｓａｓｅｒｉｅｓｏｆｒｅａｃｔｉｏｎａｎｄｔｈｅｎｐｒｏｍｏｔｅｓｃｅｌｌｇｒｏｗｔｈｂｙｂｉｎｄｉｎｇｔｈｅＡＢＰｌｏｃａｔｅｄｉｎｃｅｌｌｍｅｍｂｒａｎｅ[4,5].Ｔｈｅｓｔｕｄｉｅｓｏｎｔｏｂａｃｃｏｍｕｔａｎｔｅｘｈｉ…     

Plasmolytic behavior of the donor cell may affect protoplast response

Protoplast donor tissues (leaves of shoots in culture) from a herbaceous plant ( Solanum etuberosum ) and two woody species ( Populus alba × P. grandidentata cv. Crandon and Betula platyphylla szechuanica ) were compared during plasmolysis in a range of osmotic agents and potentials. Cells from both Solanum and Populus , species proven to be amenable to protoplast division and regeneration, plasmolyzed readily at higher osmotic potentials than cells from Betula , a species recalcitrant to prolonged culture after protoplast isolation. Betula leaf mesophyll cells exhibited persistent membrane-to-wall attachments and many failed to plasmolyze even under extreme osmolarity. Although their leaves exhibited similar photosynthetic rates, photosynthetic capacity was lost from Betula protoplasts upon isolation, and retained by Solanum protoplasts. Differential stress after isolation was not detectable through vital staining, but only Solanum and Populus gave both high protoplast yields and high plating efficiencies in continued culture.     

Studies on vacuole regeneration in evacuolated tobacco mesophyll protoplasts. Protein analysis by one- and two-dimensional microgel-electrophoresis

Evacuolated protoplasts, P(–), have been prepared from mesophyll protoplasts. P(+), of Nicotiana tabacum L. (cv. Samsun) by centrifugation in an iso-osmotic Percoil gradient. In comparative analyses performed with these two types of cells, vacuole proteins should appear in P(+) extracts, but be absent from freshly isolated P(–). Such differences were detectable in total protein extracts after two-dimensional electrophoresis. Four spots were located that are likely to represent soluble vacuolar proteins. They have low molecular mass (around 20 kDa) and slightly acidic isoelectric points. In culture, evacuolated tobacco protoplasts regenerated a vacuole de novo. The vacuolation process as observed microscopically correlated welt with the reappearance of vacuolar marker enzymes. Likewise, the protein spots that were missing in the P(–)-pattern immediately after evacuolation reappeared within the first days of protoplast culture. By immunoblotting the same behaviour was demonstrated for the well-known vacuolar protein, tonoplast ATPase.     

Biosynthesis profile and endogenous titers of polyamines differ in totipotent and recalcitrant plant protoplasts

The expression of totipotency in plant protoplasts is a complex developmental phenomenon and is affected by genetic and physiological factors. Polyamines (PAs) are known to be involved in a variety of growth and developmental processes in higher plants, as well as in adaptation to stresses. In this study, we present the homeostatic characteristics of the endogenous PA putrescine (Put), spermidine (Spd), and spermine (Spm) in totipotent (T) and non-totipotent (NT) tobacco protoplasts and in recalcitrant (R) grapevine protoplasts. T-tobacco protoplasts, with high division rates, have the highest level of endogenous PAs. In these protoplasts, the soluble-hydrolyzed fraction predominates and increases, and the insoluble-hydrolyzed fraction also increases, whereas soluble (S) PAs decrease rapidly during culture. The isolation process contributes to the increased Put levels, which are higher in freshly isolated NT-tobacco protoplasts than in T-protoplasts. During culture, total Put predominates over Spd and Spm, and the highest accumulation is found in T-protoplasts. Ornithine decarboxylase and arginase activities both increase in T-protoplasts, whereas arginine decarboxylase activity causes Put accumulation in NT-tobacco protoplasts. R-grapevine protoplasts show a different PA profile, mostly due to the lower PA content, the higher S-fraction, and the higher ratio of Spm to total PAs. The data suggest that the levels and metabolism of the intracellular PAs could be related to the expression of totipotency of plant protoplasts.     

Intraclonal Genetic Variation for Protoplast Regenerative Ability Within Solatium tuberosum cv. Record

The potato cv. Record is recognized as a recalcitrant cultivarin tissue culture and attempts in the past to obtain regenerationfrom protoplasts continually failed, despite media and protocolalterations. By sampling a large number of Record tubers, significantdifferences between lines were obtained for regeneration fromleaf discs. Eight such lines exhibiting a range of responseto regeneration from leaf discs were used in the present studyto examine protoplast culture response. Significant variationwas detected in protoplast plating efficiency and in the numberof regenerants produced. These results are discussed in relationto the exploitation of protoplasts in potato improvement andin terms of the role of tissue culture techniques for the maintenanceof potato cultivars. Solarium tuberosum, cv. Record, potato, protoplasts, intraclonal variation     

Intraclonal Genetic Variation for Protoplast Regenerative Ability Within Solanum tuberosum cv. Record

The potato cv. Record is recognized as a recalcitrant cultivarin tissue culture and attempts in the past to obtain regenerationfrom protoplasts continually failed, despite media and protocolalterations. By sampling a large number of Record tubers, significantdifferences between lines were obtained for regeneration fromleaf discs. Eight such lines exhibiting a range of responseto regeneration from leaf discs were, used in the present studyto examine protoplast culture response. Significant variationwas detected in protoplast plating efficiency and in the numberof regenerants produced. These results are discussed in relationto the exploitation of protoplasts in potato improvement andin terms of the role of tissue culture techniques for the maintenanceof potato cultivars. Solanum tuberosum, cv. Record, potato, protoplasts, intraclonal variation     

Effekte der Phospholipase D auf den Elektronentransport und die Lipidzusammensetzung isolierter Spinatchloroplasten

Summary The process of cell wall regeneration around two species of higher plant protoplasts has been studied using reflection scanning electron microscopy. The first stage in the process is the formation of short fibres from randomly spaced centres. With protoplasts of tobacco leaf (Nicotiana tabacum L., cv White Burley) these fibres then elongate and interlace apparently at random to give rise to a matted continuous layer of wall. Protoplasts of a suspension culture of grapevine cells (Vitis vinifera L. cv Müller Thurgau) produce short fibres but these fail to elongate. Budding is observed during wall regeneration around vine protoplasts. The results are discussed in terms of the mechanical properties of the wall and its relationship to changes in plasmalemma morphology which are observed during wall formation.Abbreviation SEM scanning electron microscopy     

Explanation for the lack of division of protoplasts from stems of rubber-tree (Hevea brasiliensis)

Application of in vitro culture techniques to Hevea brasiliensis has encountered serious difficulties. In particular, protoplasts have been found to be recalcitrant to division. The aim of the present work was to compare biochemically non-mitotic protoplasts isolated from young Hevea stems with mitotic protoplasts from Citrus, tobacco and rice cells. Hevea tissue maceration did not promote ethylene production contrary to the mitotic systems, rather aminocyclopropanecarboxylic acid (ACC) synthesis occurred. Large increases in superoxide dismutase (SOD) and peroxidase (PER) activities during maceration indicated the occurrence of a peroxidative phenomenon. During Hevea protoplast culture, a rapid decrease in viability was associated with an increase in ethylene production, reactions common to stress conditions. Activities of enzymes involved in the production and elimination of toxic oxygen forms were not related to protoplast reactivity. Differences in polyamine content and especially the high putresceine/spermididine + spermine ratio could be used, together with ethylene rise during culture, as markers of Hevea protoplast recalcitrance in culture. Thus, a number of physiological phenomena are associated with lack of mitotic division of stem protoplasts of rubber.     

甘蔗和烟草幼叶原生质体的核酸含量与核酸酶活性及其影响因素

与幼叶组织相比,酶法新鲜分离的甘蔗和烟草幼叶原生质体内的ＲＮＡ、ＤＮＡ及总核酸含量均降低。其原因可能是刚游离的原生质体内酸性和碱性ＲＮＡ酶与ＤＮＡ酶等活性提高所致。甘蔗叶原生质体内的核酸降低量和ＲＮＡ酶与ＤＮＡ酶活性的增加程度均高于烟草。随用作渗透压稳定剂的甘露醇浓度增加,甘蔗和烟草叶原生质体的ＲＮＡ酶和ＤＮＡ酶活性均相应提高。其中以甘蔗叶原生质体的核酸酶活性增加水平较明显。在细胞壁降解产物的作用下,除了甘蔗原生质体内的ＲＮＡ酶活性略被促进外,其ＤＮＡ酶和烟草叶原生质体内的核酸酶均不受影响     

Plasmalemma hyperpolarity and culture of sense and antisenseabp transgenic tobacco protoplasts

The relationship among transfer and expression of auxin binding protein gene (abp), auxin (NAA)-induced plasmalemma hyperpolarity and sensibility to auxin during protoplast culture was studied by measuring transmembrane potential difference (Em) and culturing the protoplasts of sense and antisenseabp transgenic tobacco. The concentration of NAA inducing the highest degree of hyperpolarity of senseabp transgenic tobacco protoplasts was lower than the control, and in protoplast culture, their sensibility to auxin increased. The concentration of antisenseabp transgenic tobacco protoplasts was higher than the control, and in protoplast culture, their sensibility to auxin decreased. These results demonstrated that ABP synthesized in endoplasmic reticulum needed to transport to cell membrane and functioned there.     

Effect of cellulase fractionation on the viability of cultured barley (Hordeum vulgare) protoplasts

The age of the stock plants was important for the barley ( Hordeum vulgare L. cv. Perth) protoplast viability. Light conditions under which the stock plants were grown also affected the viability of the protoplasts. Greenhouse-grown plants yielded much higher number of protoplasts than dark-grown plants, but protoplast viability was better when protoplasts were isolated from etiolated plants. Light supplied during protoplast culture affected protoplast viability within the first 24 h of culture. Cellulase R-10 (Onozuka) was better than Cellulysin (Calbiochem) and Cellulase ⁺ Macerozyme R-10 (Onozuka) for barley mesophyll protoplast isolation. Cellulase R-10 (Onozuka) was fractionated on a G-75 Sephadex column. The eluted fractions were tested for their ability to release barley mesophyll protoplasts and for their toxicity towards the protoplasts. Only a small part of the Cellulase R-10 was necessary for protoplast isolation from barley leaves. When the fractionated cellulase was analysed by isoelectric focusing, this part of the cellolase appeared as a single band.     

Agarose embedding affects cell wall regeneration and microtubule organization in sunflower hypocotyl protoplasts

Sunflower hypocotyl protoplasts ( Helianthus annuus L. cv. Emil) divide symmetrically to form loosely associated microcolonies when cultured in liquid medium, whereas when embedded in agarose beads they divide asymmetrically to give rise to embryo-like structures. To understand the relationship between protoplast embedding and cell division patterns, we studied the deposition of β-linked glucan and the dynamics of microtubules during early phases of culture. After one day in culture, under both culture conditions, a small proportion of the protoplasts had already begun to rebuild a β-glucan cell wall and the process reached completion in all protoplasts after 10 days. Callose deposition was faster in agarose than in liquid medium but it concerned only 30–40% of the protoplasts and was not related to either division type. No marked differences were observed in cortical arrays of microtubules. However, in embedded protoplasts perinuclear microtubules formed a well-defined basket around the nucleus; these microtubules were never observed in liquid-cultured protoplasts. A narrow preprophase band was present only in dividing protoplasts cultured in liquid medium. The results suggest that asymmetric division could be related to the lack of a narrow preprophase band and that protoplast embedding enhances nucleation or stabilization of microtubules.     

Plasmalemma hyperpolarity and culture of sense and antisense abp transgenic tobacco protoplasts

The relationship among transfer and expression of auxin binding protein gene (abp), auxin (NAA)-induced plasmalemma hyperpolarity and sensibility to auxin during protoplast culture was studied by measuring transmembrane potential difference (Em) and culturing the protoplasts of sense and antisenseabp transgenic tobacco. The concentration of NAA inducing the highest degree of hyperpolarity of senseabp transgenic tobacco protoplasts was lower than the control, and in protoplast culture, their sensibility to auxin increased. The concentration of antisenseabp transgenic tobacco protoplasts was higher than the control, and in protoplast culture, their sensibility to auxin decreased. These results demonstrated that ABP synthesized in endoplasmic reticulum needed to transport to cell membrane and functioned there. Project supported by the State Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Genetics and National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 39670078).     

Factors influencing plant regeneration from protoplasts isolated from long-term cell suspension culture of recalcitrant Indica rice cultivar IR36

Summary Factors influencing successful establishment of embryogenic cell-suspension cultures and plant regeneration from longterm cell suspension-derived protoplasts of the recalcitrant Indica rice cultivar IR36 were studied. The factors included cell and protoplast culture medium, protoplast culture procedure, the source of nurse cells, and the regeneration procedure. Embryogenic cell suspension cultures could only be established from mature seed-derived callus of IR36 in AA-based medium (Müller and Grafe, 1978). Protoplast-derived colonies could be obtained only using the filter-membrane nurse-culture procedure when Lolium multiflorum suspension cells served as nurse, rather than wild rice (Oryza ridleyi) and Japonica rice (Oryza sativa cv. Taipei 309) cells. The utilization of a two-step regeneration procedure led to regeneration of fertile plants from protoplasts isolated from 2-yr-old cell suspensions of IR36, one of the most important but recalcitrant rice cultivars.     

Role of oxidative stress in cereal protoplast recalcitrance

Cereal leaf protoplasts are often extremely unstable in culture and usually lyse within 24 hours. Using the thiobarbituric acid test and the ferrous thiocyanate test we have shown that corn (Zea mays L. cv. Market Beauty) and wheat (Triticum aestivum L. cv. Benito) leaf protoplasts accumulate peroxides and peroxide degradation products during culture. This increase correlated with an increase in lipoxygenase activity. On the other hand, enzymes involved in detoxification of peroxides such as catalase and peroxidase decreased during culture. The occurrence of lipid peroxidation in leaf protoplasts is likely to be a consequence of a temporary imbalance in the enzymes involved in oxygen metabolism. It has previously been shown that the lipoxygenase inhibitor n-propyl gallate stabilizes the protoplasts in culture and so peroxidation is likely to be the cause of leaf protoplast instability. Protoplasts obtained from suspension cultures are stable in culture and do not undergo lipid peroxidation. This stability is due to a decrease in lipoxygenase activity and increases in catalase and peroxidase activity after protoplast isolation.Abbreviations MDA malonaldehyde - 2,4-D 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid - PVP polyvinylpolypyrrolidone Dedicated to Dr. Friedrich Constabel on the occasion of his 60th birthday     

mRNAs newly synthesized by tobacco mesophyll protoplasts are wound-inducible

We have used 2-dimensional (2D) non-equilibrium pH gradient gel electrophoresis (NEPHGE) of in vitro synthesized proteins and northern hybridization with labelled cDNAs coding for three pathogenesis related (P.R.) proteins, to analyze the shift in mRNA content induced by the isolation and culture of tobacco mesophyll protoplasts. The in vitro protein pattern of mRNAs from freshly isolated protoplasts is characterized by the absence of most leaf spots and the appearance of 19 new spots. After 6 hours of culture, the mRNAs coding for the P.R. proteins become detectable and after 12 hours the protoplasts contain an mRNA population almost typical of callus cells.The different steps involved in the isolation and culture of protoplasts were analysed. Cutting off the leaf and sterilization do not change the mRNA set. In contrast, the mechanical injury applied to the leaf in order to facilitate the penetration of the enzymatic mixture induces a modification of the mRNA content identical to that resulting from protoplast isolation. Wounding is the essential event inducing dedifferentiation. Varying the culture medium and conditions leads to only limited modifications of the mRNA pattern. These results are discussed on the basis of present knowledge of the reaction of the plant to wounding and we suggest that wound healing callus and in vitro callus correspond to the same differentiation state.