Reactive oxygen species are involved in regulation of pollen wall cytomechanics.

Production and scavenging of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in somatic plant cells is developmentally regulated and plays an important role in the modification of cell wall mechanical properties. Here we show that H2O2 and the hydroxyl radical ((•)OH) can regulate germination of tobacco pollen by modifying the mechanical properties of the pollen intine (inner layer of the pollen wall). Pollen germination was affected by addition of exogenous H2O2, (•)OH, and by antioxidants scavenging endogenous ROS: superoxide dismutase, superoxide dismutase/catalase mimic Mn-5,10,15,20-tetrakis(1-methyl-4-pyridyl)21H, 23H-porphin, or a spin-trap α-(4-pyridyl-1-oxide)-N-tert-butylnitrone, which eliminates (•)OH. The inhibiting concentrations of exogenous H2O2 and (•)OH did not decrease pollen viability, but influenced the mechanical properties of the wall. The latter were estimated by studying the resistance of pollen to hypo-osmotic shock. (•)OH caused excess loosening of the intine all over the surface of the pollen grain, disrupting polar growth induction. In contrast, H2O2, as well as partial removal of endogenous (•)OH, over-tightened the wall, impeding pollen tube emergence. Feruloyl esterase (FAE) was used as a tool to examine whether H2O2-inducible inter-polymer cross-linking is involved in the intine tightening. FAE treatment caused loosening of the intine and stimulated pollen germination and pollen tube growth, revealing ferulate cross-links in the intine. Taken together, the data suggest that pollen intine properties can be regulated differentially by ROS. (•)OH is involved in local loosening of the intine in the germination pore region, while H2O2 is necessary for intine strengthening in the rest of the wall through oxidative coupling of feruloyl polysaccharides.

Features of ionogenic group composition in polymeric matrix of lily pollen wall.

The composition of ionogenic groups and ion-exchange capacity were studied in the polymeric matrix of cell walls isolated from the pollen grain and tissues of vegetative organs (leaves and stems) of Lilium longiflorum Thunb. The ion-exchange capacity was evaluated at different pH values and ionic strength of 100 mM. In the two-layered pollen wall and the somatic cell walls four types of ionogenic groups were found: amino groups, two carboxyl groups (represented by residues of uronic and hydroxycinnamic acids), and phenolic OH-groups. The groups of all four types are present in the intine, whereas the exine contains one type of anion-exchange and two types of cation-exchange groups. The contents of each type group and their ionization constants were determined. The qualitative and quantitative compositions of structural polymers of the pollen intine and somatic cell walls are significantly different. It is suggested that hydroxycinnamic acids should be involved in cross-linking of polysaccharide chains in both the intine and somatic cell primary walls, and such cross-links play a crucial role in the structural organization and integrity of the pollen grain wall.

Transport of Cl- across the plasma membrane during pollen grain germination in tobacco.

The role of Cl- transport across the plasma membrane was studied in an early step of pollen grain germination in tobacco Nicotiana tabacum L. The Cl- channel blockers, 5-nitro-2-(3-phenylpropylamino)benzoic acid (NPPB) and niflumic acid, completely suppress the germination with IC(50) approximately 8 micro M. At this concentration NPPB reduces the rate of Cl- efflux out of pollen grain by 1.8-fold in the interval 5-12 min, and niflumic acid reduces the rate 1.2-fold. 4,4;-Diisothiocyanatostilbene-2,2;-disulfonic acid, a known inhibitor of Cl- channels and antiporters, completely suppresses germination as well (IC(50) = 240 micro M), but has no effect on the rate of Cl- efflux. Inhibitors of chloride co-transporters, such as furosemide, bumetanide, and bis(1,3-dibutylbarbituric acid)pentamethine oxonol, suppress the germination by less than 50%. This set of data suggests that NPPB-sensitive anion channels are involved in the activation of pollen grains in the early stage of germination.