Localization of spin labels in oat leaf protoplasts.

An assay based on light-mediated oxidation was used to determine whether specific spin labels were partitioned throughout the protoplast or retained in the plasmalemma of Avena sativa L. cv. Garry and Park. Many classes of spin label were tested, including phospholipids, fatty acid, fatty acid methyl ester, maleimide, iodoacetamide, short chain hydrocarbon, androstane, 2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-4-aminopiperidinooxyl (TEMPAMINE) and 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidinooxyl (TEMPO). All except the phosphotidylcholine spin label were found to partition throughout the cell. The phosphotidylcholine spin label may have been selectively retained in the plasmalemma.