Preparation of protoplasts from Laminaria japonica using native and recombinant abalone alginate lyases

Laminaria japonica protoplasts were released with high yields using the abalone alginate lyase HdAly in combination with a cellulase and chelating agents. Addition of EDTA at concentrations higher than 10 mM to Laminaria thalli which had been preincubated with HdAly and Cellulase Onozuka, dramatically improved the yield of protoplasts. EDTA was far more effective than EGTA, indicating that chelating divalent metal ions such as Mg²⁺ and Sr²⁺ in addition to Ca²⁺ is a key factor for high-yield production of Laminaria protoplasts. Protoplasts had a mean diameter of 27 μm, suggesting that most protoplasts were derived from cortical cells rather than epidermal layer cells. Recombinant HdAly (rHdAly) was produced from a cDNA clone in the Sf9 insect cell expression system. rHdAly had substantially the same enzymatic properties and protoplast-producing ability as did native HdAly. The optimal conditions for high yield production of protoplasts from Laminaria using native and recombinant HdAlys were investigated.     

Regeneration of plantlets fromEnteromorpha (Ulvales,Chlorophyta) protoplasts in axenic culture

High yields of protoplasts have been obtained from vegetative thalli of three species ofEnteromorpha by enzymatic degradation of the cell wall. Several commercial and crude enzymes prepared from the digestive system and hepatopancrease of abalone and top-shell were tested at different concentrations and combinations to evaluate the yield. Commercial enzymes in combination with either abalone or top-shell crude enzymes, consistently produced a high yield of protoplasts from all three species. High regeneration rate (85–95%) occurred in the protoplasts cultured at a density greater than 1.72 × 10³ cells cm⁻² at 20 and 25°C. Light intensities tested in the present study did not affect protoplast wall formation and regeneration. Protoplasts, after regenerating the cell wall, followed different types of developmental patterns under identical culture conditions. In one type some cells underwent repeated cell divisions and formed a round and oval shaped hollow thallus with a single layer of cells. In the second type many cells underwent one or two cell divisions (occasionally no division) and soon matured and discharged many motile spores, which on germination grew into normal plantlets. In the third type some cells divided irregularly to form a mass of callus-like cells (exceptE. prolifera). Culture medium supplemented with either mannitol, sorbitol, dextrose, saccharose or NaCl at higher concentrations (> 0.4 M) inhibited cell division and further differentiation in all species. author for correspondence     

Etude de la symbiose Rhizobium-legumineuse: Préparation de cellules isolées pour l'étudein vitro

Résumé En vue d'une étude, au laboratoire, de la nodulation et de la symbiose plante-bactérie des préparations de protoplastes de mésophylle et de nodule racinaire ont été effectuées chez le haricot (Phaseolus vulgaris variété Constant). Pour chaque préparation, les conditions opératoires et les concentrations optimales de cellulase et de pectinase en solution, dans du mannitol 0,6M ont été définies.Áprès 15 jours, 10 à 15% des protoplastes de mésophylle mis en culture dans le milieu B5 de Gamborg se divisent 2 à 3 fois. Des essais de fusion réalisés avec des faibles densités cellulaires entre protoplastes de mésophylle et protoplastes de nodule ont, donné des taux de fusion de l'ordre de 2,43%.

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Study of the symbiosis Rhizobium-legume: Preparation of isolated cells forin vitro study

Summary With a view to studyin vitro the processes of nodulation and plant-bacteria symbiosis, preparation of mesophyll protoplasts and root nodule protoplasts have been realized fromPhaseolus vulgaris (Constant var.).For every preparation the process of experimentation and optimum concentrations of cellulase and pectinase diluted in mannitol 0,6M have been defined.After a 15 days' period, 10 to 15% of mesophyll protoplasts divided twice or even three times in B5 Gamborg's medium. Although we used low rate cell concentrations, root nodule protoplasts and mesophyll protoplasts have been able to fuse in the proportion of 2,43%.

     

Comparison of cell wall regeneration on maize protoplasts isolated from leaf tissue and suspension cultured cells

Summary The cell wall regeneration on protoplasts derived from maize mesophyll cells was compared with wall regeneration on protoplasts derived from suspension cultured cells using light microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and mass spectrometry. The time course of cell wall regeneration has shown that the mesophyll protoplasts regenerated walls much slower than the protoplasts derived from cultured cells. Moreover, cell wall materials on the mesophyll protoplasts were often unevenly distributed. Electron microscopy has further demonstrated that the mesophyll protoplasts have less organized and compact walls than the protoplasts from cultured cells. Chemical analysis revealed that the mesophyll protoplasts had a lower ratio ofβ-(1–3)-glucan toβ-(1–4)-glucan than protoplasts from cultured cells. The significance of these results for the viability and development of protoplasts in culture is discussed. National Research Council of Canada paper no. 32458.     

Uptake of protoplasts from the filamentous fungiAspergillus nidulans andFusarium oxysporum into protoplasts from celery (Apium graveolens L.)

Summary Protoplasts isolated from celery cell suspension cultures, were mixed with fungal protoplasts, from either the saprophytic speciesAspergillus nidulans or the pathogenic speciesFusarium oxysporum. The incubation of protoplast mixtures with PEG caused close adhesion between plant and fungal protoplasts. Subsequent dilution of PEG resulted in the uptake of protoplasts from either fungal species into the plant protoplast cytoplasm. A range of PEG concentrations, incubation times and dilution rates were tested to maximise adhesion and uptake frequencies. Identification of uptake was achieved either by fluorescent staining of nuclei or by electron-microscopy. A maximum of 10% celery protoplasts had taken upA. nidulans protoplasts after PEG treatment. Fungal protoplasts were taken up into celery protoplast cytoplasm by endocytosis, and were maintained within vesicles; two bounding membranes were observed by electron microscopy. Plant protoplast viability was determined during prolonged incubation following fungal protoplast uptake. The presence ofA. nidulans protoplasts tended to maintain celery protoplast viability and although some morphological disintegration occurred intact celery protoplasts remained for at least 92 h after uptake. The uptake ofF. oxysporum protoplasts markedly depressed celery protoplast viability after 24 h incubation and greater celery protoplast disintegration occurred.Abbreviations PEG Polyethylene glycol - DAPI 4,6-diaminido-2-phenylindole - 2,4-D 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid     

An efficient protocol for plant regeneration from protoplasts of the moss <Emphasis Type="Italic">Atrichum undulatum P. Beauv in vitro</Emphasis>

A system for plant regeneration from protoplasts of the moss, Atrichum undulatum (Hedw.) P. Beauv. in vitro, is first reported. Viable protoplasts were isolated at about 9 × 10⁵ protoplasts g⁻¹ fresh weight from 10 to 18 days protonemata. For regeneration of protoplasts, viable protoplasts were cultured in liquid–solid medium containing surface liquid medium MS (0.4 M mannitol) and subnatant solid medium Benecke (0.3 M mannitol) at 20 °C under a 16-h photoperiod white light after 12 h preculture in darkness at 20 °C. The great majority of protoplasts follow a regenerative sequence: formation of asymmetric cells in 2–3 days; division of the asymmetric cells to 2–3 cells in 4–5 days, and further develop to produce a new chloronemal filament in 15 days. Juvenile gametophyte can be visible in 20 days. The plating ratio of cell cluster regenerated from protoplasts reaches up to 45%. Transient expression experiments indicate the electroporation uptake of DNA is possible.     

Karyokinesis in growing and reverting protoplasts ofSchizosaccharomyces pombe

Division of nuclei without cytokinesis proceeds in growing protoplasts ofSchizosaccharomyces pombe. Prior to regeneration of the complete cell wall and reversion the protoplasts contain 1–7 nuclei, protoplasts with 1–2 nuclei are most frequent. When regeneration of the wall is postponed by adding snail enzymes to the growth medium, protoplasts with a higher number of nuclei (2–4) occur. Multinuclear protoplasts can revert to cells. During the first cytokinesis the protoplast with the regenerated cell wall is divided into two cells by a septum, distribution of nuclei between the two cells being probably incidental. More than only a single nucleus can pass to the revertants even during the second cytokinesis. Septation of protoplasts occurs also during a partial blockage of the wall formation by the snail enzyme preparation, however, reversion to cells can never be observed here (it occurs only after transfer of protoplasts to the medium without the enzyme preparation). The growing and reverting protoplasts represent a very good model system for studying relations among individual processes of the cell cycle, primarily growth of the cell, nuclear cycle and cytokinesis. Yeast protoplasts are often utilized as models for studying morphogenic processes, relations among regeneration of the cell wall, including division of the nucleus (karyokinesis) and cytokinesis.     

Abscisic-acid contents and concentrations in protoplasts from guard cells and mesophyll cells ofVicia faba L.

The abscisic-acid (ABA) contents of isolated guard-cell protoplasts and mesophyll-cell protoplasts fromVicia faba were determined by high-pressure liquid chromatography followed by gas chromatography. The amounts of ABA found immediately after preparation of the protoplasts varied from 90 to 570 amol per guard-cell protoplast, and from 75 to 100 amol per mesophyll-cell protoplast. These contents correspond to concentrations between 36 and 230 mol per liter in guard-cell protoplasts and between 2.7 and 3.3 mol per liter in mesophyll-cell protoplasts. During exposure of protoplasts to betaine concentrations of 0.3, 0.5, and 0.8 mol·l^-1 at 0° and 20°C for 30 min, ABA contents as well as the fractions of ABA that leaked into the medium remained constant for both protoplast types. There was no evidence for net production of ABA in isolated protoplasts subjected to osmotic stress.Abbreviation ABA abscisic acid     

High frequency callus formation from maize protoplasts

Summary A solid feeder layer technique was developed to improve callus formation of Black Mexican Sweet maize (Zea mays L.) suspension culture protoplasts. Protoplasts were plated in 0.2 ml liquid media onto a cellulose nitrate filter on top of agarose-solidified media in which Black Mexican Sweet suspension feeder cells were embedded. Callus colony formation frequencies exceeding 10% of the plated protoplasts were obtained for densities of 10³–10⁵ protoplasts/ 0.2 ml, which was 100- to 1,000-fold higher than colony formation frequencies obtained for conventional protoplast plating methods such as liquid culture or embedding in agarose media. Compared with conventional methods, the feeder layer method gave higher colony formation frequencies for three independently maintained Black Mexican Sweet suspension lines. Differences among the three lines indicated that colony formation frequencies might also be influenced by the suspension culture maintenance regime and length of time on different 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid concentrations. The callus colony formation frequency reported is an essential prerequesite for recovering rare mutants or genetically transformed maize protoplasts.     

In-situ determination of intracellular concentrations of K+ in barley (Hordeum vulgare L. cv. Kara) using the K+-binding fluorescent dye benzofuran isophthalate

The tetra[acetoxymethyl] ester of the K⁺-binding fluorescent dye benzofuran isophthalate (PBFI-AM) was used to determine changes in intracellular potassium (K⁺) concentrations and to measure net transport of K⁺ in barley (Hordeum vulgare L. cv. Kara) root and leaf protoplasts. When this dye binds to free K⁺ inside the cytoplasm, the fluorescence intensity ratio 340/380 nm increases in direct relation to the K⁺ concentration. Because of a delay in the uptake of dye into the vacuoles, it is possible to determine K⁺ concentrations in the vacuoles and transport of K⁺ from the cytoplasm into the vacuole. The uptake of PBFI-AM in root and leaf protoplasts of barley differed in the absence or presence of external K⁺ and was faster at pH 5.5 than at pH 7.0. The fluorescence intensity of the dye was stable for at least 20 h when the protoplasts were kept at 4°C. In the presence of nigericin, the fluorescence intensity of both cells and protoplasts was linearly related to the external concentration of K⁺ (up to 100 mM).     

Microbiology in the 1990s: reflections about open questions and trends

The optimal conditions for protoplast formation ofCandida apicola were by using an enzyme fromArthrobacter sp. in combination with 2-mercaptoethanol. The kinetic data support the two-layered structure model of cell wall for this yeast but the structure of the cell wall depended on the age of cells and culture conditions. To regenerate the protoplasts, the type of osmotic stabilizer was important: sorbitol gave 16 to 30% regeneration. Electron microscopy revealed the presence of vesicles in the sections of protoplasts and whole cells ofCandida apicola grown in production medium and producing glycolipids. In sections of whole cells, vesicle-like structures are located in the periplasmic space and in protoplasts they can either be attached to, or released from, the cell surface. These vesicles are thought to be involved in the transport of the surface-active glycolipids and in the protection of the cell against denaturing effects.     

Plant regeneration from protoplasts of Enteromorpha intestinalis (Chlorophyta, Ulvophyceae) as seedstock for macroagal culture

A continuous micropropagation was established from protoplasts of thegreen alga Enteromorpha intestinalis. The effects of two differentcrude enzymes and the osmolarity at different concentrations of the enzymesolution on algal protoplast yields were tested. The optimal enzymecomposition for cell wall digestion and protoplast viability was 2%cellulase R 10 Onozuka and 2% Aplysie with 0.5 m mannitol. Largenumbers of Enteromorpha protoplasts were released (10.0 × 10⁶protoplasts from 1 g fresh thalli) and settled on a rangeof substrata. Regeneration of the protoplasts followed the normal patternfor this species. Conditions for pure cultures and efficient systems offloating supports with nets were determined to optimise the product qualityof plantlets of Enteromorpha. A promising storage process has beendeveloped which involves including protoplasts in beads of alginic acid gel.Plants regenerated from protoplasts may also be used as seedstock tofacilitate propagation for macroalgal culture.     

Microtubules and coated vesicles in guard-cell protoplasts ofAllium cepa L.

Protoplasts were prepared from the guard cells ofA. cepa. Epidermal peels taken from expanding green leaves and largely free of mesophyll were treated with Cellulysin, and protoplasts were harvested after 18 h of digestion. That the protoplasts were derived from guard cells was ascertained from their characteristic vacuolar autofluorescence and from observations showing that all other epidermal cells are killed in the peeling procedure. The protoplasts proved to be a good system with which to view the cell cortex and inner surface of the plasmalemma. The lysis of cells adhering to polylysine-treated, Formvar-coated grids, followed by negative staining in uranyl acetate, showed that many microtubules normally present in ordered arrays in situ remain closely applied to the inner surface of the plasmalemma in protoplasts. In addition, numerous vesiculate elements including coated vesicles and/or pits are present amongst the microtubules. Similar vesicles are evident in thin sections of fixed, embedded guard cells and protoplasts. The significance of these structures in the cell cortex is discussed.     

Regulation of blue-light-induced proton pumping by Vicia faba L. guard-cell protoplasts: Energetic contributions by chloroplastic and mitochondrial activities

An initial response during signal transduction in guard cells, following absorption of blue light, is the extrusion of protons. Translocation of protons across the guard-cell plasmalemma is an energy-requiring activity. The present study has investigated the energetic contribution from guard-cell chloroplasts and mitochondria to blue-light-induced proton pumping by Vicia faba guard-cell protoplasts. The addition of 3(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea to the protoplast suspension had a minimal effect on rates of acidification when oxygen concentrations of the medium were maintained close to near-saturating levels. Under the same conditions, oligomycin reduced both the rates of blue-light-induced acidification and total proton efflux. Lowering the oxygen concentration of the suspending medium to approximately 20 M resulted in complete inhibition of blue-light-induced acidification activity. Swelling of protoplasts induced by blue light was also inhibited by low oxygen levels. Levels of ATP from whole-protoplast extracts were reduced by about 64% when exposed to low levels of oxygen. Increasing oxygen levels to near-saturating levels restored both blue-light-induced acidification rates and swelling of the protoplasts within a 60-min recovery period. Levels of ATP also increased during the recovery period. Addition of 3(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea or oligomycin to the suspending medium prior to increasing the oxygen concentration caused a reduction in acidification rates after the recovery period by 40 and 80%, respectively. Levels of ATP in guard-cell protoplasts were also reduced by both inhibitors after a 60-min recovery period. The results demonstrate that both guard-cell chloroplasts and mitochondria contribute energetically to blue-light-induced proton pumping by guard-cell protoplasts. Furthermore, both energy sources are inhibited by low oxygen concentrations, suggesting coordinated metabolic regulation between photo- and oxidative phosphorylation in guard cells.Abbreviations BL blue light - Chl chlorophyll - DCMU 3(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea - GCPs guard-cell protoplasts This research was supported by an operating grant from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada and a University Research Grant from The University of Calgary. Dr. L. Gedamu (University of Calgary) is thanked for providing access to the bioluminometer. Technical assistance by C. Chmielewski, C. Turnnir, S. Ham and K. Meyer is gratefully acknowledged.     

Transformation of protoplasts and intact cells from slowly growing embryogenic callus of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

A procedure for culturing protoplasts from slowly growing embryogenic calli of wheat was developed. The procedure was dependent on the ability to isolate large numbers of culturable protoplasts from slowly growing embryogenic callus. Approximately 68% of the isolated protoplasts divided, and 22% formed colonies; of the latter, 67% continued to proliferate. Plating efficiency was reduced when protoplasts were transformed by polythylene glycol, electroporation, and/or Agrobacterium. Intact cells were also directly transformed by electroporation. Direct electroporation of the Agrobacterium binary vector into intact cells resulted in a significant increase of GUS activity over the control.     

Influence of a specific xyloglucan-nonasaccharide derived from cell walls of suspension-cultured cells of Daucus carota L. on regenerating carrot protoplasts

A xyloglucan oligosaccharide was isolated from cell walls of Daucus carota L. suspension-cultured cells. From analytical data (gel-permeation chromatography, thin-layer chromatography, monosaccharide analysis, methylation analysis) it can be concluded that this oligosaccharide preparation consists mainly of a nonasaccharide known as XG9 (Glc₄Xyl₃GalFuc). This nonasaccharide showed excellent “anti-auxin” properties in the pea-stem bioassay, with 80% inhibition of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D)-induced longitudinal growth of etiolated pea stem segments at concentrations of 1-0.1 nM. Applied in nanomolar concentrations to protoplasts regenerating in a medium containing 4.52 μM 2,4-D, the nonasaccharide influenced the viability of the protoplasts and the activities of glycan synthases in vitro. The effects were similar to those achieved by the omission of 2,4-D from the regeneration medium. The composition of the regenerated cell wall was not changed significantly by the use of 2,4-D-depleted medium or the addition of XG9 to 2,4-D-containing medium.     

Water permeability and revolving movement in Phaseolus vulgaris L. twining shoots

Osmotic water permeability (Pos) was measured in protoplasts isolated from different tissues of Phaseolus vulgaris twining shoot. Parenchyma protoplasts exhibited more frequently high Pos values than epidermis protoplasts did. Water channels could facilitate water movement between parenchyma cells whereas cell-to-cell water transport mostly occurs through plasmodesmata in epidermis.     

The hydraulic conductivity as a criterion for the membrane integrity of protoplasts fused by an electric field pulse

The hydraulic conductivity of the membrane, Lp, of fused plant protoplasts was measured and compared to that for unfused cells, in order to identify possible changes in membrane properties resulting from the fusion process. Fusion was achieved by an electric field pulse which induced breakdown in the membranes of protoplasts in close contact. Close membrane contact was established by dielectrophoresis. In some experiments pronase was added during field application; pronase stabilizes protoplasts against high field pulses and long exposure times to the field. The Lp-values were obtained from the shrinking and swelling kinetics in response to osmotic stress. The Lp-values of fused mesophyll cell protoplasts of Avena sativa L. and of mesophyll and guard cell protoplasts of Vicia faba L. were found to be 1.9±0.9·10^-6, 3.2±2.2·10^-6, and 0.8±0.7·10^-6 cm·bar^-1·s^-1, respectively. Within the limits of error, no changes in the Lp-values of fused protoplasts could be detected in comparison to unfused protoplasts. The Lp-values are in the range of those reported for walled cells of higher plants, as revealed by the pressure probe.Abbreviations GCP guard cell protoplast - Lp hydraulic conductivity - MCP mesophyll cell protoplast     

Antimicrobial Actions of Hexachlorophene: Lysis and Fixation of Bacterial Protoplasts

Hexachlorophene was found to be both a lytic and a fixative agent for protoplasts isolated from Bacillus megaterium. Concentrations of 50 to 100 mug of drug per mg of original cell dry weight were required to lyse 4.4 x 10(9) protoplasts (2 mg of original cell dry weight). At higher drug concentrations, protoplasts became fixed against osmotic stress and reduced in sensitivity to disruption by n-butanol. Lower drug concentrations caused proportionate lysis in the protoplast population. Intact cells lost the ability to become plasmolyzed at these same hexachlorophene concentrations. Nonplasmolyzed, drug-treated cells were resistant to the action of lysozyme, whereas plasmolyzed, drug-treated cells were sensitive. But the sensitivity of isolated cell walls to lysozyme digestion was not markedly altered by hexachlorophene treatment. These effects appeared to be secondary in the killing of cells by hexachlorophene because they occurred at concentrations higher than the minimum lethal concentration.     

Uptake of isolated plant chromosomes by plant protoplasts

For mass isolation of plant metaphase chromosomes, cultured cells of wheat (Triticum monococcum) and parsley (Petroselinum hortense) were synchronized by hydroxyurea and colchicine treatment. This synchronization procedure resulted in high mitotic synchrony, especially in suspension cultures of parsley in which 80% of the cells were found to be at the metaphase stage. Mitotic protoplasts isolated from these synchronized cell cultures served as a source for isolation of chromosomes. The described isolation and purification method yielded relatively pure chromosome suspension. The uptake of the isolated plant chromosomes into recipient wheat, parsley, and maize protoplasts was induced by polyethylene-glycol treatment. Cytological studies provided evidences for uptake of plant chromosomes into plant protoplasts.Abbreviations PEG polyethylene glycol - HU hydroxyruea - C colchicine - HUC hydroxyurea and colchicine - CIM chromosome isolation medium - TCM Tris chromosome medium