Resin embedding, sectioning, and immunocytochemical analyses of plant cell walls in hard tissues.

Plant cell walls are structurally diverse macromolecular composites. One of our best methodologies to determine the temporal and spatial regulation of cell wall polysaccharides in relation to development are monoclonal antibody (MAB) and carbohydrate-binding module (CBM) probes and their detection by immunofluorescence microscopy. Here we describe resin embedding, sectioning, and in situ chemical and enzymatic cell wall disassembly and their use with immunocytochemical analyses as a means to unravel the complexity of cell wall molecular architecture in hard tissues and seeds.