ResponseoftheLeafCellWallto.PDFVIP

Response of the Leaf Cell Wall to Desiccation in the Resurrection Plant Myrothamnus ?abellifolius1 John P. Moore, Eric Nguema-Ona, Laurence Chevalier, George G. Lindsey*, Wolf F. Brandt, Patrice Lerouge, Jill M. Farrant, and Azeddine Driouich Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa (J.P.M., G.G.L., W.F.B., J.M.F.); and Centre National de la Recherche Scienti?que, Unite′ MixtedeRecherche 6037, Institut Fe′de′ratif de Recherche Multidisciplinaire sur les Peptides 23, Centre Commun de Microscopie Electronique, Universite′ de Rouen, 76821 Mont Saint Aignan cedex, France (E.N.-O., L.C., P.L., A.D.) The Myrothamnus ?abellifolius leaf cell wall and its response to desiccation were investigated using electron microscopic, biochemical, and immunocytochemical techniques. Electron microscopy revealed desiccation-induced cell wall folding in the majority of mesophyll and epidermal cells. Thick-walled vascular tissue and sclerenchymous ribs did not fold and supported the surrounding tissue, thereby limiting the extent of leaf shrinkage and allowing leaf morphology to be rapidly regained upon rehydration. Isolated cell walls from hydrated and desiccated M. ?abellifolius leaves were fractionated into their constituent polymers and the resulting fractions were analyzed for monosaccharide content. Signi?cant differences between hydrated and desiccated states were observed in the water-soluble buffer extract, pectin fractions, and the arabinogalactan protein-rich extract. A marked increase in galacturonic acid was found in the alkali-insoluble pectic fraction. Xyloglucan structure was analyzed and shown to be of the standard dicotyledonous pattern. Immunocytochemical analysis determined the cellular location of the various epitopes associated with cell wall components, including pectin, xyloglucan, and arabinogalactan pro- teins, in hydrated and desiccated leaf tissue. The most striking observation was a