Guard cell wall: immunocytochemical detection of polysaccharide components

The composition of guard cell walls in sugar beet leaves (Beta vulgaris L.) was studied by using histochemical staining and immunocytochemical detection of cell wall antigens. The findings were compared with those in the walls of epidermal and mesophyll cells. Probing of leaf sections with monoclonal antibodies against pectins, terminal fucosyl residues linked alpha-(1-->2) to galactose, beta-(1-->3)-glucans and arabinogalactan-proteins revealed several specific features of guard cells. Pectic epitopes recognized by JIM7 were homogeneously distributed in the wall, whereas pectins recognized by JIM5 were not found in the walls themselves, but were abundant in the cuticular layer. Large amounts of molecules bearing terminal fucose were located predominantly in ventral and lateral guard cell walls. Much smaller amounts were detected in dorsal walls of these cells, as well as in the walls of pavement and mesophyll cells. Conspicuous accumulation of these compounds was observed in the vicinity of the guard cell plasmalemma, whereas labelling was scarce in the areas of the wall adjacent to the cell surface. The presence of callose clearly marked the ventral wall between the recently formed, very young guard cells. Callose also appeared in some mature walls, where it was seen as punctate deposits that probably reflected a specific physiological state of the guard cells. Large amounts of arabinogalactan-proteins were deposited within the cuticle, and smaller amounts of these proteoglycans were also detected in other tissues of the leaf. The histochemical and immunocytochemical structure of the guard cell wall is discussed in the light of its multiple functions, most of which involve changes in cell size and shape.     

THE ULTRASTRUCTURAL CYTOLOGY OF THE DIFFERENTIATING GUARD CELLS OF VIGNA SINENSIS

Structural differentiation of the guard cells of Vigna sinensis results from the integration of the following interrelated processes: a) intense activity of ribosomes, dictyosomes, endoplasmic reticulum (ER) membranes and mitochondria and patterned organization of microtubules; b) unequal thickening and ordered micellation of their walls and opening of the stomatal pore; and c) the divergent differentiation of the plastids. In differentiating guard cells, microtubules appear anticlinally oriented and more or less evenly distributed along the unthickened part of the dorsal wall and in the middle part of the ventral wall where thickening of the future pore occurs. In periclinal walls, microtubules fan away from the margins of the increasing thickening of the ventral wall and, later, from the rims of the stomatal pore towards the dorsal walls, parallel to the depositing radial microfibrils. Microtubules may be the cytoplasmic elements underlying guard-cell morphogenesis. Although cell-plate organization in guard-cell mother cells does not seem to differ from that of other protodermal cells, the middle lamella of the ventral wall becomes electron-translucent. The stomatal pore develops schizogenously from the internal and/or external ends of the ventral wall and proceeds inwards, remaining incomplete in most of the stomata of plants grown for 30 days in darkness and in some malformed ones which were developed after a prolonged action of colchicine. The guard cell, when approaching maturity, loses its organelle complexity and plasmodesmata, but it keeps a significant portion of its cytoplasm and organelles. Perigenous stomata generally exceed the size of mesoperigenous and mesogenous ones, develop large vacuoles and appear able to induce oriented divisions in their vicinity.     

Actin filament-organized local cortical endoplasmic reticulum aggregations in developing stomatal complexes of grasses

Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) immunolabeling in developing stomatal complexes and in the intervening cells of the stomatal rows (ICSRs) of Zea mays revealed that the cortical-ER forms distinct aggregations lining locally expanding wall regions. The polarized subsidiary cell mother cells (SMCs), displayed a cortical-ER-patch lining the wall region shared with the inducing guard cell mother cell (GMC), which disorganized during mitosis. In dividing SMCs, ER persisted in the preprophase band region and was unequally distributed in the mitotic spindle poles. The subsidiary cells (SCs) formed initially an ER-patch lining the common wall with the GMC or the young guard cells and afterwards an ER-ring in the junction of the SC wall with the neighboring ones. Distinct ER aggregations lined the ICSR wall regions shared with the SCs. The cortical-ER aggregations in stomatal cells of Z. mays were co-localized with actin filament (AF) arrays but both were absent from the respective cells of Triticum turgidum, which follow a different morphogenetic pattern. Experimental evidence showed that the interphase ER aggregations are organized by the respective AF arrays, while the mitotic ER aggregations by microtubules. These results revealed that AF and ER demarcated “cortical cytoplasmic domains” are activated below the locally expanding stomatal cell wall regions, probably via a mechanosensing mechanism triggered by the locally stressed plasmalemma/cell wall continuum. The probable role(s) of the local ER aggregations are discussed.     

DEVELOPMENT OF STOMATA IN SELAGINELLA: DIVISION POLARITY AND PLASTID MOVEMENTS

The young guard cell of Selaginella inherits a single plastid from the division of the stomatal guard mother cell (GMC). During early stomatal development the single plastid undergoes a complex series of migrations and divisions. The regular pattern of plastid behavior appears to be an expression of the genetic program controlling division plane and cytomorphogenesis. The plastid in the GMC becomes precisely aligned with its midconstriction intersected by the plane of a preprophase band of microtubules (PPB) oriented parallel to the long axis of the leaf. This alignment with respect to the future division plane of the cytoplasm ensures equal plastid distribution to the daughter cells. Cytokinesis occurs in the plane previously marked by the PPB and the plastid in each daughter cell lies between the lateral wall and the newly formed nucleus. Following cytokinesis the plastid in each young guard cell develops a median constriction and migrates to the common ventral wall where the isthmus is associated with a system of microtubules in the vicinity of the developing pore region. Plastid division is completed while the plastid is adjacent to the common ventral wall. Following division, the two daughter plastids move back toward the lateral wall. Each plastid may divide again during guard cell maturation but no further migrations occur.     

Characterization of the activity of a plastid-targeted green fluorescent protein in Arabidopsis.

In Arabidopsis thaliana the PALE CRESS (PAC) gene product is required for both chloroplast and cell differentiation. Transgenic Arabidopsis plants expressing a translational fusion of the N-terminal part of the PAC protein harboring the complete plastid-targeting sequence and the green fluorescent protein (GFP) exhibit high GFP fluorescence. Detailed analyses based on confocal imaging of various tissues and cell types revealed that the PAC-GFP fusion protein accumulates in chloroplasts of mature stomatal guard cells. The GFP fluorescence within the guard cell chloroplasts is not evenly distributed and appears to be concentrated in suborganellar regions. GFP localization studies demonstrate that thin tubular projections emanating from chloroplasts and etioplasts often connect the organelles with each other. Furthermore, imaging of non-green and etiolated tissue further revealed that GFP fluorescence is present in proplastids, etioplasts, chromoplasts, and amyloplasts. Even photobleaching of carotenoid-free plastids does not affect PAC-GFP accumulation in the organelles of the guard cells indicating that the protein translocation machinery is functional in all types of plastids. The specific accumulation of GFP in guard cell chloroplasts, their tubular connections, the translocation of the precursor polypeptide into the different types of organelles, as well as the use of a plastid-targeted GFP protein as a versatile marker is discussed in the context of previously described observations.     

蚕豆保卫细胞中钙调素的免疫电镜定位

以蚕豆横切和平切气孔为材料,对钙调素进行了免疫胶体金电镜定位的结果表明:在蚕豆保卫细胞的细胞核、细胞质、细胞膜、叶绿体、液泡、高尔基体、细胞壁中都有金颗粒分布,在线粒体上的分布较少.     

Distribution of Membrane-bound Calcium and Activited Calmodulin in Isolated Zygotes and Young Embryos of Triticum aestivum

The method of non-enzymatic, manual microdissection was established to isolate zygotes and young embryos in Triticum aestivum L. The distribution of membrane-bound calcium and activated calmodulin in the isolated zygotes and young embryos was visualized by chlorotetracycline (CTC) and fluphenanize (FPZ) fluorescence probe respectively. The CTC fluorescence was polar distributed in the zygote protoplast. The distribution of the CFC and FPZ fluorescence from twocelled embryos to multicellular embryos was observed. In the young pear-shaped embryos the CTC and FPZ fluorescence of the embryos was slightly higher than that of the suspensor. In a pear-shaped embryo beginning with differentiation the CTC fluorescence was restricted to several-layer of cells between embryo and suspensor and the several ventral cells of the embryo. In the embryos with newly differentiated plumule the basal part of the embryo possessed a higher CTC fluorescence, while the FPZ fluorescence was only distributed in the basal part. It indicated that the distribution of CTC and FPZ fluorescence was in coincidence with the sites that plumule and radicle were beginning to differentiate. The technique of isolated zygotes and the possible function of calcium and calmodulin during embryo development are discussed.     

Extensive Distribution of Acetylcholinesterase in Guard Cells of Vicia faba

Acetylcholinesterase, an enzyme responsible for hydrolyzing of acetylcholine to choline and acetic acid residues, is detected in the guard cell protoplasts. Extensive acetylcholinesterase activity has been found in the guard cell protoplasts as compared with the mesophyll cell protoplasts. Moreover, light could stimulate the enzyme activity. Localization of acetylcholinesterase in the stomata of Vicia faba L. was undertaken using Karnovsky and Roots cytochemical method. It was found that in the stomata of this plant products of acetylcholinesterase enzymatic reaction mainly appeared in the outer side of the guard cell ventral wall and inner wall. When the staining time was prolonged, products of acetylcholinesterase enzymatic reaction could also be found in the ventral and inner wall of the guard cells. In addition, more extensive product of enzymatic reaction was observed in the opened stomata than in the closed stomata. It was assumed that acetylcholineaterase may participate in the regulation of stomatal movement by hydrolyzing acetylcholine around the stomata.     

乙酰胆碱酯酶在蚕豆保卫细胞中集中分布

动物细胞中,乙酰胆碱酯酶负责把乙酰胆碱水解为胆碱和乙酸以起到终止信号的作用。蚕豆（ＶｉｃｉａｆａｂａＬ．）保卫细胞原生质体表面具有特异的水解乙酰胆碱的酯酶,光可以激活该酶的活性。组织学定位的结果显示,酶反应产物主要分布于气孔保卫细胞内壁和腹壁的外侧及内壁和腹壁中,表明一种类似于动物突触传递的机制可能存在于气孔保卫细胞和周围细胞之间,即乙酰胆碱发挥作用后由乙酰胆碱酯酶分解以终止其作用;此外开放的气孔周围具有更高的酶活性,说明乙酰胆碱酯酶可通过水解气孔周围的乙酰胆碱而调控气孔运动     

Studies ofNajas pollen tubes. Fine structure and the dependence of chlorotetracycline fluorescence on external free ions

Summary The distribution of membrane-associated calcium was investigated in pollen grains and tubes of the underwater pollinated angiospermNajas marina L. using chlorotetracycline (CTC). Tubes grown in distilled water (pH 6) showed the highest fluorescence in a subapical region that tapered basally into a fluorescent strand centrally located in the tube and extending back towards the pollen grain. The apical cap had low fluorescence as did the cytoplasm surrounding the fluorescent strand, the tube base and the pollen grain. Tubes grown in different pond waters (pH 8) revealed no intracellular CTC fluorescence. Instead there was an external fluorescence forming a distinct layer around the whole tube, frequently enhanced in a subapical region to form an external collar.Modification of the patterns of fluorescence could be induced by manipulation pH of the growth media and content of specific ions. For example tubes grown in distilled water with 10^–3 M Mg²⁺ salts showed a similar CTC fluorescence as those grown in pond water. In contrast, Ca²⁺ enrichment had no visible influence on the patterns of fluorescence. The pattern of fluorescence displayed by tubes grown in distilled water, could be reproduced in pond water if the pH was artificially reduced to pH 6.Ultrastructurally, there was no detectable difference in the markedly polar distribution of organelles between pollen tubes grown in the various growth media. The secretory vesicles found in the pollen grain prior to germination become distributed throughout the pollen tube but are least concentrated in regions that show highest internal CTC fluorescence. These regions appear to have large amounts of endoplasmic reticulum and include mitochondria.These results are discussed in relation to the significance of calcium gradients for tip growth and limitations in the use of CTC.Abbreviations CTC chlorotetracycline - SV secretory vesicle - ER endoplasmic reticulum - PIXE proton induced X-ray emissions     

CHLORTETRACYCLINE-INDUCED FORMATION OF WALL APPOSITIONS (CALLOSE PLUGS) IN INTERNODAL CELLS OF NITELLA FLEXILIS (CHARACEAE)1

The formation of chlortetracycline (CTC)-induced wall appositions or plugs in internodal cells of Nitella flexilis (L.) Ag. was studied with light, fluorescence and electron microscopy. These plugs contain callose and pectin. A few minutes after CTC addition plug formation starts by fusion of polysaccharide-containing vesicles (glycosomes) with the plasmalemma. Plug growth is continued by incorporation of glycosome-endoplasmic reticulum (ER) complexes. The cytoplasm near the plug appears dense because of the accumulation of glycosomes and the increased electron density of plasma matrix and organelles. About 1 h after CTC addition plug growth ceases, the cytoplasm recovers to its pretreatment appearance, and a few glycosomes fuse singly with the plug membrane. Crystalline inclusions which consist of hexagonally packed rods are found near the plug. Coated vesicles and coated pits are clearly seen only in very early and late stages of plug formation. Callose is also found in parts of wound plugs produced after mechanical injury. No callose is present in the underlying, highly ordered wound wall. The failure to produce a wound wall beneath CTC-induced plugs appears to be related to the lower number of coated vesicles during plug formation. The possible significance of the partially coated reticulum in plug and wound wall formation is discussed.     

Disoriented growth of pollen tubes of Lilium longiflorum Thunb. induced by prolonged treatment with the calcium-chelating antibiotic,chlorotetracycline

Pollen of Lilium longiflorum Thunb. was germinated for 12 h in growth medium containing 1·10^-4 M chlorotetracycline (CTC), or growing tubes were treated with 1·10^-4 M CTC for up to 2 h. These treatments have drastic effects: In the CTC-containing medium, out-growing tubes form only short tubes. Irregular wall thickenings are visible. Thirty minutes CTC-treatment cause growing tubes to bend and grow back toward the grain. Electron micrographs of CTC-treated tubes show that CTC affects the organelle distribution: The polar zonation of organelles is disturbed. Vesicle-and endoplasmic reticulum-accumulations are found in the wrong places, together with extensive wall thickenings and a very irregular plasma membrane. The structural details of most cell organelles look normal after CTC treatment, but the mitochondria possess unusual cristae, and microtubules are absent. The disoriented growth is interpreted as an effect of the ability of CTC to chelate intracellular calcium ions, to bind them to membranes, and thus to disturb the dynamics of the delicate Ca²⁺-equilibria thought to regulate oriented exocytosis.Abbreviations CTC chlorotetracycline - ER endoplasmic reticulum     

The generation and consolidation of a radial array of cortical microtubules in developing guard cells of Allium cepa L.

The initiation and development of a radial array of microtubules (MTs) in guard cells of A. cepa was studied using immunofluorescence microscopy of tubulin in isolated epidermal layers. Soon after the completion of cytokinesis, MTs originate in the cortex adjacent to a central strip of the new, anticlinically oriented ventral wall separating the two guard cells. Cortical MTs extend from the mid-region of the central strip toward the cell edge where the ventral wall joins the inner periclinal wall. They then spread in a fan-like formation along the periclinal wall and gradually extend along the lateral and end walls as well. Many MTs criss-cross at various angles as they arc past the edge formed by the junction of the ventral and periclinal walls, but they do not terminate there, indicating that, contrary to previous report, the edge is not involved in MT initiation. Instead, the mid-region of the central strip appears to function as a planar MT-organizing zone. Initially, MTs radiate from this zone through the inner cytoplasm as well as the cortex. During cell expansion, however, the cortical MTs increasingly predominate and consolidate into relatively thick, long bundles, while the frequency of non-cortical MTs diminishes. The apparent density of MTs per unit surface area is maintained as the cells expand and gradually flex into an elliptical shape. The guard cells eventually separate completely at the pore site. The entire process is accomplished within about 12 h.Abbreviations DIC differential interference contrast - GC guard cell - MT microtubule To whom correspondence should be addressed.     

Laser microsurgery of higher plant cell walls permits patch-clamp access.

Plasma membranes of guard cells in epidermal peels of Vicia faba and Commelina communis can be made accessible to a patch-clamp pipet by removing a small portion (1-3 micrometers in diameter) of the guard cell wall using a microbeam of ultraviolet light generated by a nitrogen laser. Using this laser microsurgical technique, we have measured channel activity across plasma membranes of V. faba guard cells in both cell-attached and isolated patch configurations. Measurements made in the inside-out patch configuration revealed two distinct K(+)-selective channels. Major advantages of the laser microsurgical technique include the avoidance of enzymatic protoplast isolation, the ability to study cell types that have been difficult to isolate as protoplasts or for which enzymatic isolation protocols result in protoplasts not amenable to patch-clamp studies, the maintenance of positional information in single-channel measurements, reduced disruption of cell-wall-mediated signaling pathways, and the ability to investigate intercellular signaling through studies of cells remaining situated within tissue.     

The responses of guard and mesophyll cell photosynthesis to CO2, O2, light,and water stress in a range of species are similar

High resolution chlorophyll a fluorescence imaging was used to compare the photosynthetic efficiency of PSII electron transport (estimated by Fq'/Fm') in guard cell chloroplasts and the underlying mesophyll in intact leaves of six different species: Commelina communis, Vicia faba, Amaranthus caudatus, Polypodium vulgare, Nicotiana tabacum, and Tradescantia albifora. While photosynthetic efficiency varied between the species, the efficiencies of guard cells and mesophyll cells were always closely matched. As measurement light intensity was increased, guard cells from the lower leaf surfaces of C. communis and V. faba showed larger reductions in photosynthetic efficiency than those from the upper surfaces. In these two species, guard cell photosynthetic efficiency responded similarly to that of the mesophyll when either light intensity or CO2 concentration during either measurement or growth was changed. In all six species, reducing the O2 concentration from 21% to 2% reduced guard cell photosynthetic efficiency, even for the C4 species A. caudatus, although the mesophyll of the C4 species did not show any O2 modulation of photosynthetic efficiency. This suggests that Rubisco activity is significant in the guard cells of these six species. When C. communis plants were water-stressed, the guard cell photosynthetic efficiency declined in parallel with that of the mesophyll. It was concluded that the photosynthetic efficiency in guard cells is determined by the same factors that determine it in the mesophyll.     

Studies on the Leaf Cells of Wheat: Cell Types and their Organelles

1. By means of cell separation, pectinase cell separation and routine paraffin method, we studied the cell types of leaves of wheat, Nongda 183 and several other varieties. 2. We observed in all the cell types, the presence of mitochondria, spherosomes, plastids or chloroplasts, though the morphology and distribution of these organelles vary to a certain extent they do not interfere with the recognition of these cell types. 3. The plastids and mitochondria of the long cells in the epidermis are of various forms. Most of these organelles are distributed in the portion of the cell away from the leaf surface. 4. In each one of the guard cells, there are many morphologically stable, pale-colored but shining plastids. They are peculiar to the guard cells and cannot be found in any other cell types. 5. The bulliform cells are in ball and socket connection with the mesophyll cells underneath, while the organelles of bulliform cells are concentrated at the surface of the socket. 6. The number of the chloroplasts in the mesophyll cells is not quite constant. From the external morphology and the distribution of the chloroplasts, the mesophyll cells can be divided into, at least, two morphological types. 7. The outer bundle sheath cell is divided into chloroplast-prominent and mitochondria-prominent halves. This peculiar structure of the cell reveals the function and the transitional position it occupies in the leaf. This is a good example of unity of function and structure. 8. The inner bundle sheath cells can be recognized readily by the presence of prominent pits in the walls. The protoplasmic streaming of these cells is very active. Plastids and mitochondria can be seen clearly. 9. The importance of the cell types of these specialized cells and their variously shaped and distributed organelles is discussed.     

Ultrastructural Studies of Microsporogenesis in Phaseolus vulgaris L.

Microsporogenesis in dwarf Phaseolus vulgaris was studied under the electron microscope. Before meiosis the microspore mother cell had a lot of organelles especially plastids and ER in its cytoplasm. There were many osmiophilic granules adhering to the membranes of the plastids and vesicular ER until meiosis began. Some cytoplasmic channels were present between adjacent microsporocytes from pachytene to telophase Ⅱ. The organelles were at early stage in the early rnlcrospore, the plastids and mitochondria of which showed regional distribution. Original vacou[es were produced by smooth ER. The organelles in the tapetum cells were mainly mitochondria, plastids and ER. The ER was concentric circles in shape in transverse section.     

A planar microtubule-organizing zone in guard cells of Allium: experimental depolymerization and reassembly of microtubules

The generation of the unique radial array of microtubules (MTs) in stomatal guard cells raises questions about the location and activities of relevant MT-organizing centers. By using tubulin immunofluorescence microscopy, we studied the pattern of depolymerization and reassembly of MTs in guard cells of Allium cepa L. Chilling at 0°C reduces the MTs to small remnants that surround the nuclear surface of cells in the early postcytokinetic stage, or form a dense layer along the central portion of the ventral wall in older guard cells. A rapid reassembly on rewarming restores either MTs extending from the nuclear surface randomly throughout the cytoplasm in very young cells, or an array of MTs radiating from the dense layer at the ventral wall later in development. A similar pattern of depolymerization and reassembly is achieved by incubation with 100 M colchicine followed by a brief irradiation with ultraviolet (UV) light. Incubation with 200 M colchicine leads to a complete depolymerization that leaves only a uniform, diffuse cytoplasmic fluorescence. Nonetheless, UV irradiation of developing guard cells induces the regeneration of a dense layer of MTs at the ventral wall. The layer is again positioned centrally along the wall, even if the nucleus has been displaced by centrifugation in the presence of cytochalasin D. Neither the regenerated layer nor the perinuclear MTs seen earlier are related to the staining pattern of serum 5051, which reportedly binds to centrosomal material in animal and plant cells. The results support the view that, soon after cytokinesis, a planar MT-organizing zone is established in the cortex along the central portion of the ventral wall, which then generates the radial MT array.Abbreviations GC guard cell - MT microtubule - MTOC microtubule-organizing center - UV ultraviolet To whom correspondence should be addressed.     

Organisation of microtubules and actin filaments in the cortex of differentiating Selaginella guard cells

Summary Using fluorescent probes and confocal laser scanning microscopy we have examined the organisation of the microtubule and actin components of the cytoskeleton in kidney-shaped guard cells of six species of Selaginella. The stomata of Selaginella exhibit novel cytoskeletal arrangements, and at different developmental stages, display similarities in microtubule organisation to the two major types of stomata: grass (dumbbell-shaped) and non-grass (kidney-shaped). Initially, cortical microtubules and F-actin radiate from the stomatal pore and extend across the external and internal periclinal cell surfaces of the guard cells. As the stomata differentiate, the cytoskeleton reorients only along the internal periclinal walls. Reorganisation is synchronous in guard cells of the same stoma. Microtubules on the inner periclinal walls of the guard cells now emanate from areas of the ventral wall on either side of the pore and form concentric circles around the pore. The rearrangement of F-actin is similar to that of microtubules although F-actin is less well organised. Radial arrays of both microtubules and F-actin are maintained adjacent to the external surfaces. Subsequently, in two of the six species of Selaginella examined, microtubules on both the internal and external walls become oriented longitudinally and exhibit no association with the ventral wall. In the other four species, microtubules adjacent to the internal walls revert to the initial radial alignment. These findings may have implications in the development and evolution of the stomatal complex.Abbreviations GC guard cell - MT microtubule     

Structure and development of sieve cells in the primary phloem ofPinus resinosa

Summary The primary phloem consists mostly of sieve cells. Procambial cells and very young sieve cells contain all the components characteristic of young nucleate cells. Increase in wall thickness, which is relatively limited, constitutes the first indication of sieve-cell differentiation. During the period of wall thickening, the plastids develop starch grains and then fibrillar inclusions. Eventually the internal lamellae of the plastids collapse. The plastids do not form crystalline inclusions. As the sieve cell approaches maturity, an extensive network of smooth, tubular endoplasmic reticulum (ER) appears and then becomes mostly parietal in distribution. At maturity, large aggregates of this ER occur at the sieve areas. These aggregates are interconnected longitudinally by the parietal network of ER. In addition to the ER, the mature, plasmalemma-lined primary sieve cell contains a degenerate nucleus, with intact nuclear envelope, plastids, and mitochondria. Dictyosomes, ribosomes, and vacuoles are lacking. P-protein is not present at any stage of development.This work was supported by U.S. National Science Foundation grants GB 8330 and GB 31417 to R. F.Evert.