Studies on Cellular Site of Calcium Action in Promoting Pollen Growth

Studies were conducted to determine cellular site of Ca action in promoting pollen growth of Crinum asiaticum and a few other species. The following experimental results have strongly indicated that Ca binding takes place in pectins of the pollen tube walls. This appeared to increase the wall rigidity and to regulate permeability of the pollen cells thereby enhancing pollen growth. Radioactive Ca incorporation was observed exclusively in the pollen tube wall regions. The promoting action of Ca on pollen growth disappeared when pectinase was supplemented to the media. This was not the case with cellulase and other enzymes used. Methyl donors promoted pollen growth, and the promotion was more than doubled if Ca ions were present. Ethionine, on the other hand, inhibited tube elongation and exhibited no Ca effect. Growth of pollen tubes in oscillaled liquid media during elongation was poorer than growth in standing media. The Ca effect was also reduced when pollen was oscillated. The observations made of the reduced rate of ⁴⁵Ca incorporation when pollen was washed in water, and the hydroxylamineferric chloride test, have indicated that a considerable portion of these pectins are cold-water soluble.     

The influence of gelling agent purity and ion additions on in vitro tomato pollen germinability and pollen tube growth on semi-solid substrates

The physicochemical properties and inherent ion content of the gelling agents used for the preparation of semi-solid substrates significantly affect the germination of tomato pollen in vitro. The addition of Ca, K and Mg to semi-solid, agar-based, substrates improved the germination of tomato pollen when the inherent Ca content of the agar was low, but was without effect or even inhibitory when the Ca level was high. However, Κ and/or Mg addition was beneficial irrespective of the agar source. When agarose replaced agar and K, Mg and Ca were added individually or in combination, pollen germination and pollen tube growth were affected differently by each ion but were optimal only in the presence of all three ions, reflecting the absence of these ions in agarose. An involvement of Na was also implicated since reduction of the inherently high Na content of agar by washing improved germination, with or without the addition of Κ, Mg and Ca. Since >3 mM Ca in the semi-solid substrate impairs tomato pollen germination, the gelling agent must be of high purity, which in the case of agar may entail washing, followed by the addition of K, Mg and Ca. The adoption of such a medium would permit the standardization of semi-solid substrates for in vitro tomato pollen germination studies.     

Arabidopsis ACT11 modifies actin turnover to promote pollen germination and maintain the normal rate of tube growth

Actin is an ancient conserved protein that is encoded by multiple isovariants in multicellular organisms. There are eight functional actin genes in the Arabidopsis genome, and the precise function and mechanism of action of each isovariant remain poorly understood. Here, we report the characterization of ACT11, a reproductive actin isovariant. Our studies reveal that loss of function of ACT11 causes a delay in pollen germination, but enhances pollen tube growth. Cytological analysis revealed that the amount of filamentous actin decreased, and the rate of actin turnover increased in act11 pollen. Convergence of actin filaments upon the germination aperture was impaired in act11 pollen, consistent with the observed delay of germination. Reduction of actin dynamics with jasplakinolide suppressed the germination and tube growth phenotypes in act11 pollen, suggesting that the underlying mechanisms involve an increase in actin dynamics. Thus, we demonstrate that ACT11 is required to maintain the rate of actin turnover in order to promote pollen germination and maintain the normal rate of pollen tube growth.     

Calcium crystals in the anther of Petunia: the existence and biological significance in the pollination process

Using an X-ray microanalysis system fitted with variable-pressure scanning electron microscopy, we noted that many calcium crystals accumulated under the stomium in the anther of Petunia. When the anther was dehisced and pollen grains were released from the stomata, the calcium crystals adhered to pollen grains and moved to the stigma together with pollen grains. In contrast, an X-ray microanalysis of the stigma surface before pollination detected no calcium emission on the stigma surface. Furthermore, pollen germination and pollen tube growth in medium without Ca occurred as in complete medium. However, after the pollen grains had been washed with abundant germination medium without calcium, pollen germination in the medium without Ca was inhibited. These results show that the calcium crystals dissolved in the aqueous drop under the exudate on the stigma and supplied calcium ions for pollen germination. In addition, calcium crystals were produced not only in the anther of Petunia but also in Nicotiana, suggesting that calcium crystals supply pollen grains with the calcium ions required for pollen germination and serve to improve reproduction efficiency in Solanaceae.     

Studies on the Germination of Pine Pollen (Pinus mugo) in vitro. III. Inhibition by D-Mannose and Deoxyhexoses

D-Mannose, 2-deoxy-D-glucose, 6-deoxy-D-galactose, and 2-deoxy-D-galactose inhibit germination of pine pollen (Pinus mugo Turra) probably competitively with a metabolizable sugar. Inhibition by D-mannose, 2-deoxy-D-glucose, or 6-deoxy-D-galactose is reversed by transfer of pollen to sucrose medium, if the inhibitors was added before tube growth has started. In contrast, inhibition by 2-deoxy-D-galactose is irreversible except after very short exposures to the inhibitor, in which case the transfer results in reduced growth and germination. Incubation with 2-deoxy-D-glucose, 6-deoxy-n-galactose, or 2-deoxy-D-galactose after tube growth has started, results in irreversible inhibition of growth. If D-mannose is used, growth is resumed if the pollen are transferred to sucrose medium. Addition of D-mannose or lowering of the temperature prior to incubation with the deoxyhexoses protected against the irreversible growth inhibition. Uptake of oxygen and ³²P-labelled phosphate is reduced upon addition of either of the inhibitors.     

Sodium thioglycollate enhances pollen germination and pollen tube elongation in cruciferous species

Sodium thioglycollate is a reducing agent used in microbiological growth media to enhance the growth of anerobic, microaerophilic, and facultative organisms, and in eukaryotic tissue extraction buffers to inhibit damaging oxidative reactions. Sodium thioglycollate was added to a semi-solid pollen germination medium to evaluate its effects on in vitro pollen germination and pollen tube elongation, based on the assumption that conditions within stylar tissues are less aerobic than in ambient conditions. We observed significant increases in the percent germination and pollen tube elongation of both crop and weedy mustard family species, on a medium containing 2.2 mM sodium thioglycollate. This suggests that sodium thioglycollate may be a useful amendment to semi-solid media and to solutions that are used to study pollen vigor, physiology, or gene expression, and to bioassay sensitivities of different species or genotypes to diverse physical and chemical factors.     

In vitro germination and growth of lily pollen tubes is affected by calcium inhibitor with reference to calcium distribution

The calcium inhibitors A23187, EGTA and La³⁺ inhibit pollen grain germination and growth of pollen tubes of Lilium davidii var. unicolor at different concentrations. Treatment with 10⁻⁴ or 10⁻⁵ M ionophores A23187 reduced germination rate and resulted in distortion of pollen tube. Addition of 2 or 10 mM of the chelator EGTA disturbed the direction of pollen tube growth and extended the diameter of pollen tube as observed by light and confocal microscopy. The Ca²⁺-channel blocker lanthanum chloride (La³⁺) restrained germination or markedly caused transformation of pollen tube. Furthermore, all treatments led to disappearance of any calcium gradient. Calcium distribution in pollen grain and pollen tube was altered as shown by confocal microscopy for each treatment. This indicates that the inhibitors influence pollen development by affecting the calcium gradient which may play a critical role in germination and tube growth. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra indicated slight increases in contents of amide I and a substantial decrease in the content of aliphatic esters and saturated esters in treated pollen tubes compared with normal pollen tubes. The FTIR analysis confirmed that EGTA and La³⁺ weakened the accumulation of ester in pollen tubes, which may be associated with an increased content of amide I.     

The pollen receptor kinase LePRK2 mediates growth-promoting signals and positively regulates pollen germination and tube growth

In flowering plants, the process of pollen germination and tube growth is required for successful fertilization. A pollen receptor kinase from tomato (Solanum lycopersicum), LePRK2, has been implicated in signaling during pollen germination and tube growth as well as in mediating pollen (tube)-pistil communication. Here we show that reduced expression of LePRK2 affects four aspects of pollen germination and tube growth. First, the percentage of pollen that germinates is reduced, and the time window for competence to germinate is also shorter. Second, the pollen tube growth rate is reduced both in vitro and in the pistil. Third, tip-localized superoxide production by pollen tubes cannot be increased by exogenous calcium ions. Fourth, pollen tubes have defects in responses to style extract component (STIL), an extracellular growth-promoting signal from the pistil. Pollen tubes transiently overexpressing LePRK2-fluorescent protein fusions had slightly wider tips, whereas pollen tubes coexpressing LePRK2 and its cytoplasmic partner protein KPP (a Rop-GEF) had much wider tips. Together these results show that LePRK2 positively regulates pollen germination and tube growth and is involved in transducing responses to extracellular growth-promoting signals.     

THE INFLUENCE OF ELECTROLYTES ON POLLEN TUBE DEVELOPMENT

These experiments serve to show that neutral salts in amounts considerably below those commonly employed in culture solutions may be very injurious to pollen. It has been found, for example, that NaCl, one of the least toxic salts tried, excepting CaCl₂, added to a sucrose solution in a concentration of 0.0002 M, or about 11 parts per million, reduces the growth of sweet pea pollen tubes 15 per cent. When it is considered that MgCl₂ and BaCl₂ are about fifteen times as toxic as NaCl it becomes evident that the susceptibility of pollen tubes to injury by these substances amounts virtually to hypersensitiveness. On the other hand calcium salts in concentrations ranging from 0.02 to 0.002 M markedly enhance the growth of sweet pea pollen tubes. MgCl₂ has a similar action in the case of Nicotiana. Calcium, moreover, exerts a strong protective action in the presence of the injurious monovalent cations Na and K. So far as can be determined by microchemical means these salts do not alter the wall of the pollen tube; presumably, their effect is on the protoplast itself. In the light of recent experimentation (Osterhout) with other forms better adapted to precise investigation of these phenomena it seems probable that the explanation of the facts presented here lies in changes brought about in the permeability of the cells. Since several gaps exist in our evidence, however, conclusions drawn at this time must necessarily be provisional. The highly injurious action manifested by the cations of several of the salts used indicates that they penetrate the protoplast very rapidly. Possibly in pure sucrose cultures, exosmosis is a limiting factor in pollen tube growth. The addition of salts of calcium or magnesium may favor development by retarding or preventing this outward diffusion. The protective effect of calcium in the presence of the toxic cations K and Na is best interpreted on the assumption that the entry of these latter into the protoplast is retarded by the calcium. The mode by which hydrogen ion concentration affects pollen tube growth is largely a matter of speculation. It has previously been been shown by Brink that the time relations of the growth process simulate those of an autocatalytic reaction. It has been demonstrated also that elongation of the tubes in artificial media is related to the digestion of the reserve food materials contributed by the pollen grain. In the case of the sweet pea these stored substances are largely fats and their hydrolysis may constitute the most important chemical reaction in growth. If, as seems not improbable, the other reactions involved wait upon this one, it is the "master reaction" according to Robertson''s hypothesis. If this conception really applies to the case in hand as outlined, the effect of the concentration of hydrogen ions on growth may be a direct one. It is known that the action of the fat-splitting enzyme lipase is favored by a certain amount of free acid. The maximum rate of germination of the pollen and the greatest amount of growth of the pollen tubes occur at pH 6.0. This may be due in large part to the immediate effect of this concentration of hydrogen ions upon the digestion of the reserve food.     

Heterotrimeric G-protein participation in Arabidopsis pollen germination through modulation of a plasmamembrane hyperpolarization-activated Ca2+-permeable channel

The role of heterotrimeric G proteins in pollen germination and tube growth was investigated using Arabidopsis thaliana plants in which the gene (GPA) encoding the G-protein a subunit (Galpha) was null or overexpressed. Pollen germination, free cytosolic calcium concentration ([Ca(2+)](cyt)) and Ca(2+) channel activity in the plasma membrane (PM) of pollen cells were investigated. Results showed that, compared with pollen grains of the wild type (ecotype Wassilewskija, ws), in vitro germinated pollen of Galpha null mutants (gpa1-1 and gpa1-2) had lower germination percentages and shorter pollen tubes, while pollen from Galpha overexpression lines (wGalpha and cGalpha) had higher germination percentages and longer pollen tubes. Compared with ws pollen cells, [Ca(2+)](cyt) was lower in gpa1-1 and gpa1-2 and higher in wGalpha and cGalpha. In whole-cell patch clamp recordings, a hyperpolarization-activated Ca(2+)-permeable conductance was identified in the PM of pollen protoplasts. The conductance was suppressed by trivalent cations but insensitive to organic blockers; its permeability to divalent cations was Ba(2+) > Ca(2+) > Mg(2+) > Sr(2+) > Mn(2+). The activity of the Ca(2+)-permeable channel conductance was down-regulated in pollen protoplasts of gpa1-1 and gpa1-2, and up-regulated in wGalpha and cGalpha. The results suggest that Galpha may participate in pollen germination through modulation of the hyperpolarization-activated Ca(2+) channel in the PM of pollen cells.     

Immunolocalisation of arabinogalactan proteins and pectins in Actinidia deliciosa pollen

Summary. The cell wall composition of germinating pollen grains of Actinidia deliciosa was studied by immunolocalization with monoclonal antibodies against arabinogalactan proteins (AGPs) and pectins. In ungerminated pollen, the JIM8 epitope (against a subset of AGPs) was located in the intine and in the cytoplasm, while the MAC207 epitope (against AGPs) was only located in the exine. After germination, the JIM8 and MAC 207 epitopes were located in the cytoplasm and in the pollen tube wall. The Yariv reagent that binds to AGPs was added to the germination medium inducing a reduction or inhibition in pollen germination. This indicates that AGPs are present in the growing pollen tube and play an important role in pollen germination. To identify the nature of the pectins found in pollen grains and tubes, four monoclonal antibodies were used. The JIM5 epitope (against unesterified pectins) was located in the intine, more intensely in the pore region, and along the pollen tube wall, and the JIM7 epitope (against methyl-esterified pectins) was also observed in the cytoplasm. After germination, the JIM5 epitope was located in the pollen tube wall; although, the tube tip was not labelled. The JIM7 epitope was located in the entire pollen tube wall. LM5 (against galactans) showed a labelling pattern similar to that of JIM5 and the pattern of LM6 (against arabinans) was similar to that of JIM7. Pectins show different distribution patterns when the degree of esterification is considered. Pollen tube wall pectins are less esterified than those of the pollen tube tip. The association of AGPs with pectins in the cell wall of the pollen grain and the pollen tube may play an important role in the maintenance of cell shape during pollen growth and development.Correspondence and reprints: Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Universidade do Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre, 823, 4150-180 Porto, Portugal.     

培养基组分及培养条件对蜡梅花粉萌发及花粉管生长的影响

采用液体培养法研究不同培养基组分和培养条件对蜡梅花粉萌发和花粉管生长的影响。结果表明:(1)PEG-4000是蜡梅花粉离体培养所必需的培养基成分,当培养基中无PEG-4000时,花粉不能正常萌发。(2)培养基内低浓度蔗糖对花粉萌发和花粉管的生长无显著影响,但随着蔗糖浓度的升高,则对花粉萌发和花粉管生长表现出强烈的抑制作用,且浓度越高,抑制效应越强。(3)培养基内其它组分分别在一定浓度范围(0～250g/L PEG-4000、0～50mg/L硼酸、0～30mg/L硝酸钙)内对花粉萌发及花粉管生长有促进作用,但超过上述高限值时则起抑制作用。(4)培养基内镁和钾的浓度对花粉萌发及花粉管生长影响不显著。研究表明,蜡梅最适花粉液体培养基组分为250g/L PEG-4000+50mg/L H3BO3+30mg/L Ca(NO3)2.4H2O,且在pH 5.5、温度15℃和600lx的光照培养条件下蜡梅花粉萌发和花粉管生长最佳。     

In vitro Arabidopsis pollen germination and characterization of the inward potassium currents in Arabidopsis pollen grain protoplasts

The focus of this study is to investigate the regulatory role of K(+) influx in Arabidopsis pollen germination and pollen tube growth. Using agar-containing media, in vitro methods for Arabidopsis pollen germination have been successfully established for the first time. The pollen germination percentage was nearly 75% and the average pollen tube length reached 135 microm after a 6 h incubation. A decrease in external K(+) concentration from 1 mM to 35 microM resulted in 30% inhibition of pollen germination and 40% inhibition of pollen tube growth. An increase in external K(+) concentration from 1 mM to 30 mM stimulated pollen tube growth but inhibited pollen germination. To study how K(+) influx is associated with pollen germination and tube growth, regulation of the inward K(+) channels in the pollen plasma membrane was investigated by conducting patch-clamp whole-cell recording with pollen protoplasts. K(+) currents were first identified in Arabidopsis pollen protoplasts. The inward K(+) currents were insensitive to changes in cytoplasmic Ca(2+) but were inhibited by a high concentration of external Ca(2+). A decrease of external Ca(2+) concentration from 10 mM (control) to 1 mM had no significant effect on the inward K(+) currents, while an increase of external Ca(2+) concentration from 10 mM to 50 mM inhibited the inward K(+) currents by 46%. Changes in external pH significantly affected the magnitude, conductance, voltage-independent maximal conductance, and activation kinetics of the inward K(+) currents. The physiological importance of potassium influx mediated by the inward K(+)-channels during Arabidopsis pollen germination and tube growth is discussed.     

类整合素在烟草花粉萌发和花粉管生长中的作用

The effects of antiserum against human VnR integrin and integrin antagonist GRGDSP peptides on Nicotiana tabacum pollen germination and tube growth both in in vitro and in semi-vivo conditions were studied. No obvious inhibitory effects on pollen germination and tube growth in vitro were observed when anti-VnR serum or GRGDSP peptides was added to BK culture medium, but the enhancement of pollen germination and tube growth in vitro promoted by calmodulin was depressed by adding anti-VnR serum or GRGDSP peptides to BK culture medium. In addition to that, pollen germination and tube growth on stigma, as well as tube growth in styles were also inhibited at some extent by treating stigma and microinjecting GRGDSP peptides or anti-VnR serum into styles. The role of integrin-like proteins in regulation of pollen germination and tube growth in situ was discussed.     

Inhibition of RNA and protein synthesis in pollen tube development of Pinus bungeana by actinomycin D and cycloheximide

* The effects of actinomycin D and cycloheximide on RNA and protein synthesis were investigated during pollen tube development of Pinus bungeana. * RNA and protein contents, protein expression patterns, cell wall components and ultrastructural changes of pollen tubes were studied using spectrophotometry, SDS-PAGE electrophoresis, Fourier transformed infrared (FTIR) microspectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). * Pollen grains germinated in the presence of actinomycin D, but tube elongation and RNA synthesis were inhibited. By contrast, cycloheximide inhibited pollen germination and protein synthesis, induced abnormal tube morphology, and retarded the tube growth rate. SDS-PAGE analysis showed that protein expression patterns changed distinctly, with some proteins being specific for each phase. FTIR microspectroscopy established significant changes in the chemical composition of pollen tube walls. TEM analysis revealed the inhibitors caused disintegration of organelles involved in the secretory system. * These results suggested RNA necessary for pollen germination and early tube growth were present already in the pollen grains before germination, while the initiation of germination and the maintenance of pollen tube elongation depended on continuous protein synthesis.     

The presence of a heterotrimeric G protein and its role in signal transduction of extracellular calmodulin in pollen germination and tube growth

The role of heterotrimeric G proteins in pollen germination, tube growth, and signal transduction of extracellular calmodulin (CaM) was examined in lily pollen. Two kinds of antibodies raised against animal Gzalpha, one against an internal sequence and the other against its N terminus, cross-reacted with the same 41-kD protein from lily pollen plasma membrane. This 41-kD protein was also specifically ADP ribosylated by pertussis toxin. Microinjection of the membrane-impermeable G protein agonist GTP-gamma-S into a pollen tube increased its growth rate, whereas microinjection of the membrane-impermeable G protein antagonist GDP-beta-S and the anti-Galpha antibody decreased pollen tube growth. The membrane-permeable G protein agonist cholera toxin stimulated pollen germination and tube growth. Anti-CaM antiserum inhibited pollen germination and tube growth, and this inhibitory effect was completely reversed by cholera toxin. The membrane-permeable heterotrimeric G protein antagonist pertussis toxin completely stopped pollen germination and tube growth. Purified CaM, when added directly to the medium of plasma membrane vesicles, significantly activated GTPase activity in plasma membrane vesicles, and this increase in GTPase activity was completely inhibited by pertussis toxin and the nonhydrolyzable GTP analogs GTP-gamma-S and guanylyl-5'-imidodiphosphate. The GTPase activity in plasma membrane vesicles was also stimulated by cholera toxin. These data suggest that heterotrimeric G proteins may be present in the pollen system where they may be involved in the signal transduction of extracellular CaM and in pollen germination and tube growth.     

Aluminium Effects on Pollen Germination and Tube Growth of Chamelaucium uncinatum. A Comparison with Other Ca2+Antagonists

An interaction between aluminium (Al) and calcium (Ca) may bea cause of Al toxicity in plants. The pollen tube is a suitablesystem to test the interaction between Al and Ca since Ca ionsplay a pivotal role in pollen germination and tube growth. Weinvestigated how Al and other known blockers of Ca²⁺-permeablechannels (trivalent cations, ruthenium red, verapamil and nifedipine)influence pollen of an Australian native species Geraldton waxflower(Chamelaucium uncinatum). Pollen germination was inhibited bymicromolar concentrations of trivalent cations (La³⁺>Al³⁺>Gd³⁺)and ruthenium red, but it was relatively insensitive to a micromolarconcentration of verapamil. Exposure of the growing pollen tubesto micromolar concentrations of Al³⁺and La³⁺, and a millimolarconcentration of Ca²⁺chelator ethyleneglycol-bis(ß-aminoethylether)-N,N'-tetraacetic acid (EGTA) led to rapid tip bursting.In contrast, exposure to Gd³⁺, nifedipine, ruthenium red, verapamiland the organic trivalent cation tris (ethylenediamine)cobalt(TEC³⁺) caused only inhibition of pollen tube growth. The Al³⁺-relatedpollen tube bursting was reduced significantly by increasingeither solution pH from 4.5 to 6 or activity of Ca²⁺from 0.25to 5 m M. In contrast, La³⁺-related pollen tube bursting wasinsensitive to changes in Ca²⁺activity. The results are discussedin terms of Al interactions with cell wall Ca²⁺and the plasmamembrane Ca²⁺-permeable channels. Copyright 1999 Annals of BotanyCompany Aluminium toxicity, Ca²⁺-channel blockers, cell wall, Chamelaucium uncinatum, pollen germination, pollen tube growth.     

G蛋白调节剂对梨花粉萌发及花粉胞内Ca2+浓度变化的影响

用激光共聚焦技术研究了异三聚体G蛋白活性调节剂对梨花粉萌发、花粉管生长及花粉细胞内游离钙离子浓度动态的影响。结果表明：异三聚体G蛋白激活剂霍乱毒素(CTX)可促进梨花粉萌发与花粉管生长,而其抑制剂百日咳毒素(PTX)则抑制花粉萌发与花粉管生长;霍乱毒素处理后,花粉细胞内产生特异性的“钙瞬变”信号,而百日咳毒素处理后则引起花粉细胞内游离钙离子浓度的持续下降。这表明：异三聚体G蛋白可能参与了梨花粉萌发与花粉管生长的调控过程,G蛋白的活性变化对花粉萌发的效应可能是通过调控花粉细胞内游离Ca^2 浓度的动态变化产生特异性的钙信号来实现的。     

Studies on the Germination of Pine Pollen (Pinus mugo) in vitro. II. Effects of Different Ions

Studies on the initial germination of pollen of Pinus mugo showed no significant influence of ions on O₂ uptake and uptake of ³²P-labelled phosphate. At the onset of tube growth O₂ uptake decreased in the absence of calcium. In inorganic media tube growth and ³²P uptake were reduced in the absence of calcium or boric acid. In the absence of calcium a requirement for magnesium was observed. When the medium was deprived of polyvalent ions with EDTA, growth and ³²P uptake ceased. The presence of calcium in the medium was found to be essential for the maintenance of the structural and functional integrity of the cell membranne. — The ion requirement was more pronounced when tube growth was stimulated with sucrose. Calcium, magnesium, boric acid, and nitrate (as nitrogen source) were essential constitutents of the medium. The stimulation due to calcium required either magnesium or boric acid. — A density effect was observed which can be related to diffusible substances from the pollen into the medium. This was not observed when calcium and magnesium were present in the medium. The phenomenon is explained as an enrichment of the medium with diffusible substances from non-germinated dead pollen. — Germination and the tube growth were found to be greatly dependent on a short period of equilibration of pollen at room temperature before sowing.