pH and expansin action on single suspension-cultured tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) cells

The aim of this study was to measure key material properties of the cell walls of single suspension-cultured plant cells and relate these to cell-wall biochemistry. To this end, micromanipulation was used to compress single tomato cells between two flat surfaces until they ruptured, and force-deformation data were obtained. In addition to measuring the bursting force, we also determined the elastic (Young’s) modulus of the cell walls by matching low strain (≤20% deformation) experimental data with a cell compression model, assuming linear elastic cell walls. The walls were most elastic at pH 4.5, the pH optimum for expansin activity, with an elastic modulus of 2.0 ± 0.1 GPa. Following the addition of exogenous expansins, cell walls became more elastic at all pH values. Western blot analysis of proteins from walls of cultured cells revealed the presence of expansin epitopes, suggesting that the inherent pH dependence of elasticity and other compression phenomena is related to the presence of endogenous expansin proteins and their wall-loosening ability. Although strict application of the linear-elastic model could not be applied to large deformations—for example, up to cell bursting—because of irreversible behaviour, the deviation of the data from the model was generally small enough to allow estimation of the strain in the cell wall at failure. This strain was greater at pH 4.5 and when expansins were added to the suspension. The changes in elasticity are consistent with suggestions about the mode of expansin action. The estimated strains at failure are compatible with data on the failure of Acetobacter-derived cellulose–xyloglucan composites and proposed mechanisms of such failure. Through the measurement of cell-wall material properties using micromanipulation, it may be possible to understand more fully how cell-wall composition, structure and biochemistry lead to cell mechanical behaviour.