A new fluorescent test for cell vitality using calcofluor white M2R

The fluorescent fabric-brightener dye, Calcofluor white M2R (CFW), can be used to distinguish between living and dead cells from a variety of animal and plant sources. CFW does not stain living mouse fibroblasts or trout red blood cells and stains only the cell walls in living cells from the epidermis of onion bulb scale, staminal hairs of Tradescantia, and longitudinal sections of broad bean stems and roots. Heat-killed plant or animal cells are recognized by their lightly stained cytoplasm and brightly stained nuclei. The optimum staining concentrations were very low (0.01% to 0.03%) and nontoxic. Using onion scale epidermis in which some cells had been killed by heating as a test system, and the plasmolysis-deplasmolysis rection as the ultimate test for cell vitality, results from CFW staining correctly predicted cell vitality for about 98% of the cells tested. This success rate was comparable to those for Evans blue, uranin or neutral red in this test system.     

Monoclonal antibodies against plant proteins recognise animal intermediate filaments

Four monoclonal antibodies were raised against polypeptides present in a high-salt detergent-insoluble fraction from cells of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. Indirect immunofluorescence microscopy of fibroblasts and epithelial cells grown in culture using these plant antibodies revealed staining arrays identical to those obtained with well characterised antibodies to animal intermediate filaments. Immunofluorescence microscopy of Chlamydomonas with these monoclonal antibodies and a monoclonal antibody that recognises all animal intermediate filaments (anti-IFA) gave a diffuse, patchy cytoplasmic staining pattern. Both the plant antibodies and anti-IFA stained interphase onion root tip cells in a diffuse perinuclear pattern. In metaphase through to telophase, the labelling patterns colocalised with those of microtubules. Labelling of the phragmoplast was also detected but not staining of the preprophase band. On Western blots of various animal cell lines and tissues, all the antibodies labelled known intermediate filament proteins. On Western blots of whole Chlamydomonas proteins, all the antibodies labelled a broad band in the 57,000 Mr range, and three antibodies labelled bands around 66,000 and 140,000 Mr but with variable intensities. On Western blots of whole onion root tip proteins, all the antibodies labelled 50,000 Mr (two to three bands) polypeptides and a diffuse band around 60,000 Mr and three of the antibodies also labelled several polypeptides in the 90,000-200,000 Mr range. The consistent labelling of these different bands by several different monoclonal antibodies recognising animal intermediate filaments makes these polypeptides putative plant intermediate filament proteins.     

Model system for plant cell biology: GFP imaging in living onion epidermal cells.

The ability to visualize organelle localization and dynamics is very useful in studying cellular physiological events. Until recently, this has been accomplished using a variety of staining methods. However, staining can give inaccurate information due to nonspecific staining, diffusion of the stain or through toxic effects. The ability to target green fluorescent protein (GFP) to various organelles allows for specific labeling of organelles in vivo. The disadvantages of GFP thus far have been the time and money involved in developing stable transformants or maintaining cell cultures for transient expression. In this paper, we present a rapid transient expression system using onion epidermal peels. We have localized GFP to various cellular compartments (including the cell wall) to illustrate the utility of this method and to visualize dynamics of these compartments. The onion epidermis has large, living, transparent cells in a monolayer, making them ideal for visualizing GFP. This method is easy and inexpensive, and it allows for testing of new GFP fusion proteins in a living tissue to determine deleterious effects and the ability to express before stable transformants are attempted.     

用于植物基因研究的mCherry表达载体构建及定位表达

荧光蛋白在生物学研究中具有广泛的应用和重要的作用,其中红色荧光蛋白mCherry因其颜色和良好的特性,对于植物基因研究具有重要的使用价值,本研究将mCherry基因构建到pBI121植物表达载体系统中,构建了pBI121MCS-mCherry载体。利用基因枪转化法转入洋葱表皮进行表达验证,显微镜观察结果显示整个洋葱细胞具有红色荧光,证明该载体能够在植物细胞中表达红色荧光蛋白。利用双酶切连接法将转录因子BpMYB4基因构建到该载体上,得到融合表达载体pBI121MCS-mCherry-BpMYB4,在洋葱表皮中表达,结果显示细胞核具有红色荧光,证明该载体能够准确表达融合蛋白,进行亚细胞定位。同时融合基因时不再需要中间载体,构建简便,引入的KpnⅠ酶切位点,增加了可选择性。因此该载体可用于植物基因表达定位及转基因植株筛选研究中,为今后的白桦基因组学研究提供了材料。     

A Rapid,Highly Efficient and Economical Method of Agrobacterium-Mediated In planta Transient Transformation in Living Onion Epidermis

Transient transformation is simpler, more efficient and economical in analyzing protein subcellular localization than stable transformation. Fluorescent fusion proteins were often used in transient transformation to follow the in vivo behavior of proteins. Onion epidermis, which has large, living and transparent cells in a monolayer, is suitable to visualize fluorescent fusion proteins. The often used transient transformation methods included particle bombardment, protoplast transfection and Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. Particle bombardment in onion epidermis was successfully established, however, it was expensive, biolistic equipment dependent and with low transformation efficiency. We developed a highly efficient in planta transient transformation method in onion epidermis by using a special agroinfiltration method, which could be fulfilled within 5 days from the pretreatment of onion bulb to the best time-point for analyzing gene expression. The transformation conditions were optimized to achieve 43.87% transformation efficiency in living onion epidermis. The developed method has advantages in cost, time-consuming, equipment dependency and transformation efficiency in contrast with those methods of particle bombardment in onion epidermal cells, protoplast transfection and Agrobacterium-mediated transient transformation in leaf epidermal cells of other plants. It will facilitate the analysis of protein subcellular localization on a large scale.     

Development of the Hypodermal Casparian Band in Corn and Onion Roots

A hypodermal Casparian band develops 40–50 mm from theroot tip in corn and 30–40 mm from the root tip in onion.In both plants, the endodermal Casparian band matures about20 mm closer to the root tip than the hypodermal Casparian band.Using the apoplastic fluorescent dye, Calcofluor white M2R (CFW),a permeability barrier could be distinguished in the radialwalls of the hypodermis 40–50 mm from the root tip incorn and onion. In progressively younger regions of the roots,CFW was first excluded from the outer tangential hypodermalwalls and the inner tangential epidermal walls, then the radialepidermal walls so that in very young regions only the outertangential epidermal walls were permeated. In contrast to CFW,the symplastic fluorescent dye, uranin, was translocated fromthe epidermis into the stele at all distances tested (5.0–50mm from the root tips). CFW and uranin at a concentration of0.01% proved nontoxic to corn and onion roots on the basis ofroot growth tests. Key words: Zea mays, Casparian band, Hypodermis, Allium cepa     

洋葱鳞茎表皮Actin细胞骨架的Rh—Ph荧光和光学显微镜观察

洋葱鳞茎内表皮细胞经Triton X-100处理和多聚甲醛固定之后用Rh-Ph(Rhodamine-Phalloidin)染色,细胞质内可见较丰富的、直径为100—300nm的F-actin束。较粗的F-actin束沿细胞的长轴平行排列,并纵裂成较细的“分枝”,纵裂成的分枝又纵裂成更细的“分枝”。各种大小的F-actin束相互交织在一起构成一个三维的纤丝网络,并且与细胞膜、细胞核和其它细胞器相连。经同样方法处理和固定的细胞用考马斯亮兰R_(250)(Coomassie brilliant blue R_(250))染色之后,细胞质内可见直径为200—300nm的纤丝,形态特征和排列方式和上述在荧光显微镜下看到的F-actin束相同。本研究结果表明洋葱鳞茎内表皮的细胞骨架包含较丰富的F-actin系统;Pena的考马斯亮兰染色法(1980)所显示的结构主要代表F-actin束。     

A rapid analytical technique for flow cytometric analysis of cell viability using calcofluor white M2R

Analysis of dead versus live cells is shown to be possible using Calcoflour White M2R (CFW), a fluorescent brightener. Comparison of CFW with both propidium iodide (PI) and fluorescein diacetate (FDA) was performed on a FACS 440 dual laser flow cytometer on several populations of cultured rat and mouse cell lines, peripheral leukocytes, splenocytes, diatoms, and plant protoplasts. As a measure of cell viability, staining results with CFW were strongly associated with PI (correlation coefficient of 0.9886) and FDA (inverse correlation coefficient of 0.9647). With plant and algal cells, controls are necessary as CFW does stain live cells to some extent. CFW (excitation: UV, emission max: 435 nm) can be used in conjunction with two-color immunofluorescence analysis using fluorochromes excited at 488 nm with no interference.     

Some new observations and interpretations on the vital staining of leaf epidermal tissue by neutral red

Summary The lower leaf epidermis from 5 plant species was stained with neutral red at 2 pH's (7.1 and 5.6) in the light and dark when the stomata were open or closed. At pH 5.6 no globule (= droplet) formation was observed in the guard cells whether the stomata were open or closed and cell walls possessed a high affinity for the stain. At pH 7.1 globules appeared in guard cells of open stomata, but not closed stomata, within 15 minutes. Anaerobic conditions prevented this globule formation. InZea mays, globules also appeared in subsidiary cells when the stomata were closed and in certain epidermal cells. Where globule formation did not occur increased diffuse staining of certain epidermal cells was considered to be the indication of cell integrity. In old leaf material very large numbers of dark blue globules appeared in epidermal cells ofCommelina diffusa, C. communis andSenecio odoris and this was associated with cell senescence.The staining characteristics were discussed in terms of cellular K⁺, Cl^–, tannin and flavonoid content and vacuolar pH.     

家蚕消化管内桑叶的银染法研究

通过银染法对家蚕整体染色,结果表明:家蚕消化管内的桑叶由叶表皮、叶肉和叶脉组成。叶表皮包括上表皮和下表皮。上表皮细胞可分为三种:钟乳体细胞、绿色表皮细胞和黄色表皮细胞;下表皮内含有气孔;叶肉组织内含有晶体,其中海绵组织内的最多。家蚕消化管由前向后可分为前肠、中肠和后肠,由外向内依次为肌层、底膜、上皮细胞层、内膜。中肠最为发达,其发达的上皮细胞向内表面突起形成许多大的指突形皱褶;上皮细胞层内有圆筒形细胞、杯形细胞两种细胞,两者在形状、功能以及嗜银性等方面有所差异。家蚕消化管对桑叶不同组织的消化吸收效率有差异,上表皮吸收效率最高,下表皮和栅栏组织次之,最低的是海绵组织。采用动物细胞染色方法对植物细胞进行染色,并与常规植物学染色方法进行了比较;依据细胞嗜银性的不同,可将桑叶的上表皮细胞分为两种亚型。     

Simultaneous visualization of peroxisomes and cytoskeletal elements reveals actin and not microtubule-based peroxisome motility in plants

Peroxisomes were visualized in living plant cells using a yellow fluorescent protein tagged with a peroxisomal targeting signal consisting of the SKL motif. Simultaneous visualization of peroxisomes and microfilaments/microtubules was accomplished in onion (Allium cepa) epidermal cells transiently expressing the yellow fluorescent protein-peroxi construct, a green fluorescent protein-mTalin construct that labels filamentous-actin filaments, and a green fluorescent protein-microtubule-binding domain construct that labels microtubules. The covisualization of peroxisomes and cytoskeletal elements revealed that, contrary to the reports from animal cells, peroxisomes in plants appear to associate with actin filaments and not microtubules. That peroxisome movement is actin based was shown by pharmacological studies. For this analysis we used onion epidermal cells and various cell types of Arabidopsis including trichomes, root hairs, and root cortex cells exhibiting different modes of growth. In transient onion epidermis assay and in transgenic Arabidopsis plants, an interference with the actin cytoskeleton resulted in progressive loss of saltatory movement followed by the aggregation and a complete cessation of peroxisome motility within 30 min of drug application. Microtubule depolymerization or stabilization had no effect.     

Electron microscopic observations of the surface of L-cells in culture

Summary Techniques are described for the preparation of preshadowed replicas of both the upper and lower surfaces of L-cells in culture, and of cross sections of L-cells growing on a cellophane substrate. These revealed long slender microvilli, 800 to 1,100 A in diameter, projecting from both upper and lower surfaces of the cells. These microvilli were frequently observed to contact other cells and substrate, and to leave material behind on the substrate. The plasma membrane of the lower surface was separated from the substrate by an electron-lucent gap 200 to 300 A wide. The surface coat of the L-cell was visualized by staining with colloidal iron and ruthenium. Staining with colloidal iron was most intense on the surface of the microvilli. The gap between cell and substrate was intensely stained with ruthenium red. Enzymatic digestion of living cells revealed that both trypsin and neuraminidase reduced the staining of the cell coat by colloidal iron, whereas only trypsin altered its staining with ruthenium red. After trypsin treatment, fragments of an amorphous material with the staining characteristics of the cell coat were observed between the denuded cells. Treatment with ribonuclease, chymotrypsin or hyaluronidase did not affect the staining of the cell coat.     

Mobile and immobile endoplasmic reticulum in onion bulb epidermis cells: short- and long-term observations with a confocal laser scanning microscope

The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) of onion bulb scale epidermis cells consists of long, tubular strands lying deep in the cytoplasm which move quickly and a less mobile peripheral network of tubules and cisternae that change in position, shape and size but that also have immobile, fixed, sites (IFSs). IFSs occur in junctions, at vertexes and at blind endings of tubules as well as at the edges and the surface of cisternae. They are regularly arranged in helicoidal rows and may be knot- or ring-like in structure. They become enlarged by treatment with oryzalin but not with colchicine. They persist for long times (for more than 30 min); together with pulling forces, the surface tension and other factors, they determine the configuration and motion of the peripheral network. New polygons of the network are mainly formed by the development of new tubules that become joined with other parts of the network. Polygons disappear by contraction and fusion of tubules. The inner, rapidly moving ER tubules remain connected with the peripheral network over longer distances by sliding junctions. Cytochalasin D causes an accumulation of the ER into patches, a fusion of tubules into cisternae and changes in shape, which indicate the loss of pulling forces. In contrast to animal cells (but like the movement of the inner tubular strands), the latter is dependent upon the actomyosin system; microtubules are not involved. Despite the differences in the organizing components, the peripheral ER in onion bulb scale epidermis cells and that of the borders of cultured animal cells are similar in morphology and motility.     

Fluorescent vital staining of plant sexual cell nuclei with DNA—specific fluorochromes and its application in gametoplast fusion

DNA－binding fluorochromes are often used for vital staining of plant cell nuclei.However,it is not always sure whether the cells after staining still remain in living state.We chose several criteria to estimate the validity of real vital staining for sexual cell nuclei.These were:the cytoplasmic streaming in pollen tubes whose nuclei were stined,the simultaneous visualization of fluorochromatic reaction and nucleus staining in isolated generative cells,and the capability of isolated.prestained generative or sperm cells to fuse with other protoplasts.The results confirmed that 4,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole(DAPI),Hoechst 33258 and mithramycin could be used as real vital stains,though their efficiency varied from case to case;among them DAPI showed best effect.The fluo rescent vital staining technique offered a useful means foridentification and selection of heterokaryons in gametoplast manipulation studies.     

Immobilization of microbial cells on inner epidermis of onion bulb scale for biosensor application

Inner epidermis of onion bulb scales was used as a natural support for immobilization of microbial cells for biosensor application. A bacterium Sphingomonas sp. that hydrolyzes methyl parathion into a chromophoric product, p-nitrophenol (PNP), has been isolated and identified in our laboratory. PNP can be detected by electrochemical and colorimetric methods. Whole cells of Sphingomonas sp. were immobilized on inner epidermis of onion bulb scale by adsorption followed by cross-linking methods. Cells immobilized onion membrane was directly placed in the wells of microplate and associated with the optical transducer. Methyl parathion is an organophosphorus pesticide that has been widely used in the field of agriculture for insect pest control. This pesticide causes environmental pollution and ecological problem. A detection range 4-80 μM of methyl parathion was estimated from the linear range of calibration plot of enzymatic assay. A single membrane was reused for 52 reactions and was found to be stable for 32 days with 90% of its initial hydrolytic activity. The applicability of the cells immobilized onion membrane was also demonstrated with spiked samples.     

Caged probes: a novel tool in studying symplasmic transport in plant tissues

Summary. Caged probes offer a novel approach to study plant cell-to-cell communication. Instead of introducing fluorescent molecules into cells by microinjection, their caged counterparts can be preloaded into the tissue by diffusion. Following spatially controlled photoactivation, movement of the uncaged fluorochrome can be followed in time and direction by confocal laser scanning microscopy. In the onion bulb scale epidermis used as a model system, symplasmic transport of the tracer out of a target cell was followed. Transport via the symplasmic pathway was challenged by plasmolysing the tissue. The experiments confirmed the symplasmic nature of tracer transport.Correspondence and reprints: Department of Plant Biology, Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University, Thorvaldsensvej 40, 1871 Frederiksberg C. Denmark. E-mail: hjm@kvl.dk     

Staining Tomato Fruit Cuticle and Exocarp Tissues

Immature fruit of tomato, Lycopersicon esculentum (Celebrity), was examined to observe the cuticle, its interface with the epidermis, and the general histology of the outer exocarp. Paraffin sections were stained first with Bismarck brown Y. Structures already stained in various hues of brown were stained again with either azure B, aluminum hematoxylin and alcian blue 8GX, or the periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) reaction. Bismarck brown-azure B displayed the cuticle in strong contrast with subjacent tissue; however, nuclei were not easily identified at low magnification. Bismarck brown-hematoxylinalcian blue produced a sharply contrasted combination of yellow cuticle, bright blue cell walls and purple nuclei. Nuclei stained purple with hematoxylin were easily identified at × 100. Bismarck brown-PAS stained the cuticle golden brown and subjacent tissues magenta red. Surprisingly, epidermal cells stained specifically and intensely with PAS while pretreatment with an aldehyde blockade and omission of periodic acid prevented staining of all other tissues.     

Comparative histochemical study of Bowen's disease and actinic keratosis: preserved normal basal cells in Bowen's disease

The degree of DNA-instability as revealed by immunohistochemical staining with anti-cytidine antibody after acid hydrolysis (DNA-instability test) has been recently used as a marker of malignancy. This technique was applied to examine 17 skin tissue samples of Bowen's disease, 47 of actinic keratosis, 15 of squamous cell carcinoma, 5 of seborrheic keratosis, and 10 of normal skin. All benign neoplastic cells of seborrheic keratosis and normal epidermal cells were negative. On the other hand, all cancer cells were positive with the DNA-instability test, indicating their malignancy, but all basal cells in Bowen's disease were completely negative. Compatible with this result, the basal cells in Bowen's disease were characteristically normal as evident in other histochemical examinations. Thus, they were negative with p53 immunohistochemistry, with normal signals of chromosome 17 in situ hybridisation and argyrophilic nucleolar organiser region, and showed slightly enhanced proliferative activity as revealed by proliferating cell nuclear antigen immunohistochemistry. Immunohistochemical staining with 34 beta E12 (monoclonal antibody against cytokeratins 1, 5, 10, and 14), which stains all normal epidermal keratinocytes including basal cells, showed that only the basal cells of Bowen's disease stained strongly and homogeneously, while all cancer cells in the upper layers of Bowen's disease and all layers of actinic keratosis were only sporadically or weakly stained. Staining with 34 beta B4 (monoclonal antibody against cytokeratin 1), which recognises the whole epidermis except for the basal layer in the normal epidermis, showed that the basal cells in the Bowen's disease were completely negative, and lower layer cells in the actinic keratosis and upper layer cells in Bowen's disease were only sporadically stained positive, although the superficial layer cells in actinic keratosis stained strongly and homogeneously. Our findings clearly indicate that the basal cells in Bowen's disease are normal. In support of this conclusion, the same cells showed normal morphology on electron microscopy with preserved basement membrane, although the latter was often damaged in actinic keratosis.     

Detection of lipids in the plant meristematic cell with the aid of Sudan black staining

As lipids can be a source of artefacts during intracellular localization of enzymes by cytochemical methodsin situ it was the aim of the present work to obtain orientation data on the distribution of lipids in the meristematic plant cells. The different fixation and object embedding methods examined revealed that it is best to fix the material by some formol fixative and without chroming, to embed it in polyethyleneglycol media. An alcoholic solution of Sudan black was found to be most reliable. In the meristematio cells the cytoplasm is usually stained more intensely than the nucleus. The ground cytoplasm is stained weakly while cytoplasmic particles are stained intensely. In some cases an intense black staining of nuclei, particularly in the prolongation zone, can be achieved. The staining intensity of cell components does not decrease on extracting lipids with pyridine. After extracting the dye from stained cell components a browninsh residual coloration remains. Chromatography of Sudan black revealed in all the samples tested slowly moving spots (blue and violet) and rapidly moving ones (red II, yellow, red I, colourless).     

A combined stain for identifying epithelial cells of the gastric mucosa

New techniques are proposed for differentiating each type of gastric epithelial cell in the same tissue section. The techniques combine the following stains: paradoxical concanavalin A staining (PCS) to identify mucous neck cells, periodic acid Schiff-concanavalin A staining to distinguish mucous neck cells from surface mucous cells, and a modified Bowie's stain to demonstrate zymogen granules of chief cells. Feulgen hydrolysis preceding the Bowie stain was found to remove most of the nonspecific coloration encountered with the original Bowie method. The results obtained by the new sequences were as follows: Feulgen hydrolysis-PCS-Bowie staining: mucous neck cells stained brown and chief cell zymogen granules deep blue. The other mucin-secreting cells remained unstained; Feulgen hydrolysis-PAS-concanavalin A-Bowie staining: mucous neck cells stained brown, zymogen granules stained deep blue to purplish blue and surface mucous cells stained purplish red.