Teagen D Quilichini1, Carl J Douglas1, A Lacey Samuels2. 1. Department of Botany, University of British Columbia, 6270 University Boulevard, Vancouver, BC V6 T 1Z4, Canada. 2. Department of Botany, University of British Columbia, 6270 University Boulevard, Vancouver, BC V6 T 1Z4, Canada lsamuels@mail.ubc.ca.
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The Arabidopsis thaliana pollen cell wall is a complex structure consisting of an outer sporopollenin framework and lipid-rich coat, as well as an inner cellulosic wall. Although mutant analysis has been a useful tool to study pollen cell walls, the ultrastructure of the arabidopsis anther has proved to be challenging to preserve for electron microscopy. METHODS: In this work, high-pressure freezing/freeze substitution and transmission electron microscopy were used to examine the sequence of developmental events in the anther that lead to sporopollenin deposition to form the exine and the dramatic differentiation and death of the tapetum, which produces the pollen coat. KEY RESULTS: Cryo-fixation revealed a new view of the interplay between sporophytic anther tissues and gametophytic microspores over the course of pollen development, especially with respect to the intact microspore/pollen wall and the continuous tapetum epithelium. These data reveal the ultrastructure of tapetosomes and elaioplasts, highly specialized tapetum organelles that accumulate pollen coat components. The tapetum and middle layer of the anther also remain intact into the tricellular pollen and late uninucleate microspore stages, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: This high-quality structural information, interpreted in the context of recent functional studies, provides the groundwork for future mutant studies where tapetum and microspore ultrastructure is assessed.
BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The Arabidopsis thaliana pollen cell wall is a complex structure consisting of an outer sporopollenin framework and lipid-rich coat, as well as an inner cellulosic wall. Although mutant analysis has been a useful tool to study pollen cell walls, the ultrastructure of the arabidopsis anther has proved to be challenging to preserve for electron microscopy. METHODS: In this work, high-pressure freezing/freeze substitution and transmission electron microscopy were used to examine the sequence of developmental events in the anther that lead to sporopollenin deposition to form the exine and the dramatic differentiation and death of the tapetum, which produces the pollen coat. KEY RESULTS: Cryo-fixation revealed a new view of the interplay between sporophytic anther tissues and gametophytic microspores over the course of pollen development, especially with respect to the intact microspore/pollen wall and the continuous tapetum epithelium. These data reveal the ultrastructure of tapetosomes and elaioplasts, highly specialized tapetum organelles that accumulate pollen coat components. The tapetum and middle layer of the anther also remain intact into the tricellular pollen and late uninucleate microspore stages, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: This high-quality structural information, interpreted in the context of recent functional studies, provides the groundwork for future mutant studies where tapetum and microspore ultrastructure is assessed.
Authors: Clarice de Azevedo Souza; Sung Soo Kim; Stefanie Koch; Lucie Kienow; Katja Schneider; Sarah M McKim; George W Haughn; Erich Kombrink; Carl J Douglas Journal: Plant Cell Date: 2009-02-13 Impact factor: 11.277
Authors: Olga E Mirgorodskaya; Nuria K Koteyeva; Alexandra V Volchanskaya; Evgeny A Miroslavov Journal: Protoplasma Date: 2015-02-03 Impact factor: 3.356