Vacuolar Sorting Receptor （VSR） Proteins Reach the Plasma Membrane in Germinating Pollen Tubes

Vacuolar sorting receptors （VSRs） are type I integral membrane proteins that mediate the vacuolar transport of soluble cargo proteins via prevacuolar compartments （PVCs） in plants. Confocal immunofluorescent and immunogold Electron Microscope （EM） studies have localized VSRs to PVCs or multivesicular bodies （MVBs） and trans-Golgi network （TGN） in various plant cell types, including suspension culture cells, root cells, developing and germinating seeds. Here, we provide evidence that VSRs reach plasma membrane （PM） in growing pollen tubes. Both immunofluorescent and immunogold EM studies with specific VSR antibodies show that, in addition to the previously demonstrated PVC/MVB localization, VSRs also localize to PM in lily and tobacco pollen tubes prepared from chemical fixation or high-pressure freezing/frozen substitution. Such a PM localization suggests an additional role of VSR proteins in mediating protein transport to PM and endocytosis in growing pollen tubes. Using a high-speed Spinning Disc Confocal Microscope, the possible fusion between VSR-positive PVC organelles and the PM was also observed in living tobacco pollen tubes transiently expressing the PVC reporter GFP-VSR. In contrast, the lack of a prominent PM localization of GFP-VSR in living pollen tubes may be due to the highly dynamic situation of vesicular transport in this fast-growing cell type.

Biogenesis of Plant Prevacuolar Multivesicular Bodies

Plant prevacuolar compartments （PVCs）, or multivesicular bodies （MVBs）, are single membrane-bound organelles that play important roles in mediating protein trafficking to vacuoles in the secretory pathway. PVC/MVB also serves as a late endosome in the endocytic pathway in plants. Since the plant PVC was iden- tified as an MVB more than 10 years ago,-great progress has been made toward the understanding of PVC/ MVB function and biogenesis in plants. In this review, we first summarize previous research into the iden- tification and characterization of plant PVCs/MVBs, and then highlight recent advances on the mechanisms underlying intraluminal vesicle formation and maturation of plant PVCs/MVBs. In addition, we discuss the possible crosstalk that appears to occur between PVCs/MVBs and autophagosomes during autophagy in plants. Finally, we list some open questions and present future perspectives in this field.

Molecular Characterization of Plant Prevacuolar and Endosomal Compartments

Prevacuolar compartments （PVCs） and endosomal compartments are membrane-bound organelles mediating protein traffic to vacuoles in the secretory and endocytic pathways of plant cells. Over the years, great progress has been made towards our understanding in these two compartments in plant cells. In this review, we will summarize our contributions toward the identification and characterization of plant prevacuolar and endosomal compartments. Our studies will serve as important steps in future molecular characterization of PVC biogenesis and PVC-mediated protein traffickinq in plant cells.