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Localisation and characterisation of cell wall mannan polysaccharides in Arabidopsis thaliana

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Abstract

Polysaccharides containing β-1,4-mannosyl residues (mannans) are abundant in the lignified secondary cell walls of gymnosperms, and are also found as major seed storage polysaccharides in some plants, such as legume species. Although they have been found in a variety of angiosperm tissues, little is known about their presence and tissue localisation in the model angiosperm, Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Heynh. In this study, antibodies that specifically recognised mannans in competitive ELISA experiments were raised in rabbits. Using these antibodies, we showed that Golgi-rich vesicles derived from Arabidopsis callus were able to synthesise mannan polysaccharides in vitro. Immunofluorescence light microscopy and immunogold electron microscopy of Arabidopsis inflorescence stem sections revealed that the mannan polysaccharide epitopes were localised in the thickened secondary cell walls of xylem elements, xylem parenchyma and interfascicular fibres. Similarly, mannan epitopes were present in the xylem of the leaf vascular bundles. Surprisingly, the thickened epidermal cell walls of both leaves and stems also contained abundant mannan epitopes. Low levels were observed in most other cell types examined. Thus, mannans are widespread in Arabidopsis tissues, and may be of particular significance in both lignified and non-lignified thickened cell walls. Polysaccharide analysis using carbohydrate gel electrophoresis (PACE) of cell wall preparations digested with a specific mannanase showed that there is glucomannan in inflorescence stems. The findings show that Arabidopsis can be used as a model plant in studies of the synthesis and functions of mannans.

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Fig. 1.
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Abbreviations

BSA:

bovine serum albumin

ELISA:

enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay

PACE:

polysaccharide analysis by carbohydrate gel electrophoresis

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Acknowledgements

M.G. Handford, T.C. Baldwin, F. Goubet and T.A. Prime contributed equally to this work. Dan Hill, Janine Sherrier and Jeremy Griggs are thanked for help with the microscopy experiments. We thank Paul Knox for advice on generation and characterisation of antibodies, and Ulrike Rink for help in the initial stages of the project. We are very grateful to Harry Gilbert for generous donation of mannanase enzymes. This work was supported by the BBSRC and The University of Cambridge Broodbank Fund.

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  1. Timothy C. Baldwin

    Present address: School of Applied Sciences, University of Wolverhampton, Wolverhampton, WV1 1SB, UK

  2. Tracy A. Prime

    Present address: Cytomyx Ltd, 6–7 Technopark, Newmarket Road, Cambridge, CB5 8PB, UK

  3. Joanne Miles

    Present address: The Babraham Institute, Babraham Hall, Babraham, Cambridge, CB2 4AT, UK

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Building O, Downing Site, Cambridge, CB2 1QW, UK

    Michael G. Handford, Timothy C. Baldwin, Florence Goubet, Tracy A. Prime, Joanne Miles, Xiaolan Yu & Paul Dupree

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  1. Michael G. Handford
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Correspondence to Paul Dupree.

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Handford, M.G., Baldwin, T.C., Goubet, F. et al. Localisation and characterisation of cell wall mannan polysaccharides in Arabidopsis thaliana . Planta 218, 27–36 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00425-003-1073-9

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