Characterization of native and modified extensin monomers and oligomers by electron microscopy and gel filtration.

We isolated hydroxyproline-rich extensin precursors from suspension-cultured tomato, cucumber, and sycamore-maple by salt-elution of intact cells and cell wall preparations. Cation exchange chromatography and HPLC gel filtration resolved these precursors into monomeric and oligomeric fractions, confirmed by amino acid analysis, immunological cross-reactivity, and TEM visualization. After rotary shadowing monomers appeared as flexuous rods with a contour length of 70 to 100 nanometers and a ;persistence length' (maximum linear displacement) of 44 to 51 nanometers. Oligomers were larger branched assemblies with occasional pores. Native extensin monomers gave uniform gel filtration retention times (Rts), but the Rts of HF-deglycosylated monomers varied depending on concentration, implying ionic interaction between the highly basic deglycosylated monomers and a weakly cationic gel matrix. Succinylation of the deglycosylated monomers reversed the net charge, and restored the retention time to that of glycosylated monomers, confirming the ionic interaction. Succinylation enhanced visualization of the deglycosylated monomers, which previously were barely discernible flexuous rods. The persistence length:contour length ratios of succinylated deglycosylated monomers (tomato sdP2) and glycosylated monomers (sP2) were the same, implying a similar molecular flexibility for both glycosylated and deglycosylated monomers at room temperature. These molecular properties are consistent with suggestions that extensin monomers reptate into the wall as a transmural protein ;weft' which becomes progressively cross-linked forming a network penetrated by the cellulose ;warp.'