Xyloglucans of Monocotyledons Have Diverse Structures

Except in the Poaceae, little is known about the structures of the xyloglucans in the primary walls of monocotyledons. Xyloglucan structures in a range of monocotyledon species were examined. Wall preparations were isolated, extracted with 6 M sodium hydroxide, and the extracts treated with a xyloglucan-specific endo-（1→4）-β-glucanase preparation. The oligosaccharides released were analyzed by high-performance anion-exchange chromatography and by matrix-assisted laser-desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Oligosaccharide profiles of the non-commelinid monocotyledons were similar to those of most eudicotyledons, indicating the xyloglucans were fucogalactoxyloglucans, with a XXXG a core motif and the fucosylated units XXFG and XLFG. An exception was Lemna minor （Araceae）, which yielded no fucosylated oligosaccharides and had both XXXG and XXGn core motifs. Except for the Arecales （palms） and the Dasypogonaceae, which had fucogalactoxyloglucans, the xyloglucans of the commelinid monocotyledons were structurally different. The Zingiberales and Commelinales had xyloglucans with both XXGn and XXXG core motifs; small proportions of XXFG units, but no XLFG units, were present. In the Poales, the Poaceae had xyloglucans with a XXGn core motif and no fucosylated units. In the other Poales families, some had both XXXG and XXGn core motifs, others had only XXXG; XXFG units were present, but XLFG units were not.

Distribution of Fucosylated Xyloglucans among the Walls of Different Cell Types in Monocotyledons Determined by Immunofluorescence Microscopy

Xyloglucans in the non-lignified primary cell walls of different species of monocotyledons have diverse struc- tures, with widely varying proportions of oligosaccharide units that contain fucosylated side chains （F side chains）. To determine whether fucosylated xyloglucans occur in all non-lignified walls in a range of monocotyledon species, we used immunofluorescence microscopy with the monoclonal antibody CCRC-M1. The epitope of this antibody, α-L-FUCp-（1 →2）- β-D-Galp, occurs in F side chains. In most non-commelinid monocotyledons, the epitope was found in all non-lignified walls. A similar distribution was found in the palm Phoenix canariensis, which is a member of the basal commelinid order Arecales. However, in the other commelinid orders Zingiberales, Commelinales, and Poales, the occurrence of the epitope was restricted, sometimes occurring in only the phloem walls, but often also in walls of other cell types including stomatal guard and subsidiary cells and raphide idioblasts. No epitope was found in the walls of the commelinids Tradescantia virginiana （Commelinaceae, Commelinales） and Zea mays （Poaceae, Poales）, but it occurred in the phloem walls of two other Poaceae species, Lolium multiflorum and L. perenne. The distribution of the epitope is discussed in relation to xyloglucan structures in the different taxa. However, the functional significance of the restricted distributions is unknown.

Elucidating the role of SlXTH5 in tomato fruit softening

Fruit softening in tomato(Solanum lycopersicum)is closely associated with cell wall disassembly,which is brought about through the action of a range of cell wall structure-related enzymes and other proteins such as expansins.Xyloglucan endotransglucosylase/hydrolase(XTH)(EC 2.4.1.207 and/or EC 3.2.1.151)has been proposed to be key player involved in xyloglucan metabolism.SlXTH5 showed the highest expression level among all SlXTHs during tomato ripening.In this study,the role of SlXTH5 involved in tomato softening was investigated in CRISPR-based knockout mutants of SlXTH5.Loss-of-function of SlXTH5 in transgenic tomato lines resulted in slightly firmer fruit pericarp,but significantly decreased their color index compared with azygous wild type(WT)control fruits.Increased paste viscosity was detected in CRISPR mutants,indicating that the activity of SlXTH5 is responsible for maintaining cell wall structural integrity.Immunocytochemistry studies were performed using the monoclonal antibody probe LM25 to examine the localization and distribution of xyloglucan in the pericarp cells of the CRISPR mutant fruits.The data indicated more xyloglucan was retained in the pericarp of CRISPR mutant fruit than in WT control fruit.This study revealed the link between SlXTH5 and xyloglucan metabolism and indicated the potential of manipulating SlXTH5 to regulate fruit softening.

Analysis on Tissue-specific Expression of Dp XTH1 and Dp XTH2 Genes in Dahlia

[Objective] This study aimed to investigate the functions and related mechanisms of xyloglucan Endotransglycosylase/hydrolases （XTHs） during the growth and development of dahlia. [Method] Using /3-actin as the reference gene, the rela- tive transcription levels of DpXTH1 and DpXTH2 genes in roots, stems, leaves and petals of dahlia were analyzed by real-time RT-PCR. [Result] The DpXTH1 and DpXTH2 were not expressed in the roots, but expressed abundantly in the petals of dahlia. There were little expressions in the stems and leaves of dahlia. [Conclusion] The DpXTH1 and DpXTH2 were petal-specific genes and closely related to the growth and development of petals in dahlia.

Identification of Senescence-associated Protein DpXTH1 and its Gene Cloning in Dahlia Petals

[Objective] This study aimed to explore the molecular mechanism of senescence in ethylene-insensitive flowers. [Method] The dahlia petals were used as matedal, and the senescence-associated proteins were isolated and identified using two-dimensional electrophoresis, mass spectrometry and an encoding gene was cloned using molecular biology techniques. [Result] In the two-dimensional elec- trophorogram of proteins from dahlia petals at building color, full flowering and flow- er senescence pedods, a total of 44 protein spots with differences in expression level more than two times were detected. From the 44 protein spots, xyloglucan （XTHs）, a senescence-associated protein, was iso- lated and identified and its expression level was increased continuously with the senescence process of dahlia petals. By using the total RNA of dahlia petals as matedal and a pair of degenerate pdmers, the cDNA sequence of XTH gene was cloned by RT-PCR. The encoding region of XTH gene has a full length of 882 bp, encoding 293 amino acid residues, and is named as DpXTH1 （Accession number： HM053613.1）. The cluster analysis showed that the amino acid sequence of DpXTH1 has high homology with those of XTHs in other plants. [Conclusion] The isolated and identified DpXTH1 from dahlia petals belonged to the XTH family in plants, and its biological function was associated with the senescence process and regulation of dahlia petals.

Effects of Ethephon on Aerenchyma Formation in Rice Roots

The effects of ethephon on the constitutive aerenchyma formation in roots were studied with a rice variety Yangdao 6 as material. The number of air spaces formed by disintegrated cells in mediopellis increased significantly with the rising ethephon concentrations, whereas superoxide dismutase （SOD） activity showed downward trends. Compared with the control, the expression levels of xyloglucan endotransglycosylase （XED gene were markedly higher both at the apical 10 mm and distal parts of roots in 100 mg/L ethephon treated plants. The accumulation of XET was supposed to be associated with the aerenchyma development. Furthermore, earlier cortical cell death was observed under the ethephon treatments, and most of nuclei of cells at 4 mm from the root apex disintegrated with many Golgi apparatus, mitochondria and membranebound vesicles around the cell wall.

Influence of Xyloglucan Molar Mass on Rheological Properties of Cellulose Nanocrystal/Xyloglucan Hydrogels

Plant components are an inexhaustible source for the construction of bio-based materials.Here we report,for the first time,the elaboration of biobased cellulose nanocrystals(CNC)/xyloglucan(XG)hydrogels.XG is a hemicellulose displaying a great affinity for cellulose surface and can be thus irreversibly adsorbed on CNC.Properties of the hydrogels were investigated by varying the molar mass of XG either by enzymatic treatment with Endo-glucanase(EG2)or physical fractionation by ultrasound(US).Fractions were characterised by high-performance size exclusion chromatography(HPSEC)and their monosacchari decompositions were determined.Three fractions with high,average and small molar mass,(800,300 and 100103 g/mol respectively),were selected in order to tune the properties of the hydrogel.Sol-gel transition conditions were determined for each fraction by achieving phase diagram using the inverted tube method.Mechanical properties,assessed by rheology,are improved by increasing XG molar mass since elastic modulus is higher for hydrogels formed with higher molar mass fractions as well as the strain at break.Gel formation is likely due to the adsorption of XG fractions on CNC which increases the effective hydrodynamic volume of CNC leading to steric stabilization and interactions between loops and tails of XG adsorbed.

Identification of EDTA-Soluble Polysaccharides from Pea Epicotyl Cell Walls and Their Interaction with Xyloglucan

Nascent pectin and glucuronoxylan were prepared from membrane-bound enzymes obtained from pea epicotyls. They had previously been shown to exhibit a protein- and pH-dependent pattern of binding to cell wall ghosts and to xy-loglucan extracted from cell walls prepared from pea epicotyls;maximum binding required a pH of 3-4, and the pres-ence of cell wall proteins, namely assemblins. To determine whether wall polysaccharides deposited in cell walls be-have in the same manner as nascent polymers, radioactively labeled EDTA-soluble polymers were prepared from newly-deposited pea epicotyl cell walls. Different enzyme treatments followed by column chromatography, in addition to complete acid hydrolysis followed by paper and thin layer chromatography, indicated the presence of pectin, to-gether with smaller amounts of glucuronoxylan, in this EDTA-soluble extract. These radioactively labeled polysaccha-rides were found to bind to cell wall ghosts and to xyloglucan extracted from the second and third internodes of pea epicotyls cell walls in a pH-dependent manner, similar to the binding pattern obtained with nascent polymers. Maxi-mum binding occurred at pH 3-4, and also required the presence of protein.

Studies on Xyloglucanase during the Germination of Seeds of Tamarindus indica

Germinating seeds of Tamarindus indica contain endo-β-1, 4-xyloglucanases which degrade tamarind xyloglucan, but not carboxymethylcellulose (CMC). The xyloglucanases are isolated from the germinating tamarind seeds using 50 mM acetate buffer, pH 5.5 containing 0.5 M NaCl. The Km value is 0.667 g/liter and the enzyme is optimally active at pH 5.5 and stable between pH 4 - 6.5. The optimum temperature is 45?C and is quite stable upto 50?C. The activity declined by 50% at 60?C and is completely inactivated at 70?C. Highest xyloglucanase activity and specific activity are observed on the 23rd day of germination. The polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) indicated the presence of five isozymes of xyloglucanases which are visualized by activity staining separately with congo red and grams iodine. Isozyme 2 is the major xyloglucanase present throughout the germination period.

Functions of Xyloglucan in Plant Cells

While an increase in the number of xyloglucan tethers between the cellulose microfibrils in plant cell walls increases the walls＇ rigidity, the degradation of these tethers causes the walls to loosen. Degradation can occur either through the integration of xyloglucan oligosaccharides due to the action of xyloglucan endotransglucosylase or through direct hydrolysis due to the action of xyloglucanase. This is why the addition of xyloglucan and its fragment oligosac- charides causes plant tissue tension to increase and decrease so dramatically. Experiments involving the overexpression of xyloglucanase and cellulase have revealed the roles of xyloglucans in the walls. The degradation of wall xyloglucan in poplar by the transgenic expression of xyloglucanase, for example, not only accelerated stem elongation in the primary wall, but also blocked upright-stem gravitropism in the secondary wall. Overexpression of cellulase also reduced xylo- glucan content in the walls as cellulose microfibrils were trimmed at their amorphous region, resulting in increased cell volume in Arabidopsis leaves and in sengon with disturbed leaf movements. The hemiceflulose xylogiucan, in its function as a tether, plays a key role in the loosening and tightening of cellulose microfibrils： it enables the cell to change its shape in growth and differentiation zones and to retain its final shape after cell maturation.

RNA-Seq Analysis of Developing Nasturtium Seeds （Tropaeolum majus）： Identification and Characterization of an Additional Galactosyltransferase Involved in Xyloglucan Biosynthesis

A deep-sequencing approach was pursued utilizing 454 and Illumina sequencing methods to discover new genes involved in xyloglucan biosynthesis, cDNA sequences were generated from developing nasturtium （Tropaeolum majus） seeds, which produce large amounts of non-fucosylated xyloglucan as a seed storage polymer. In addition to known xyloglucan biosynthetic genes, a previously uncharacterized putative xyloglucan galactosyltransferase was iden- tified. Analysis of an Arabidopsis thaliana mutant line defective in the corresponding ortholog （AT5G62220） revealed that this gene shows no redundancy with the previously characterized xyloglucan galactosyltransferase, MUR3, but is required for galactosyl-substitution of xyloglucan at a different position. The gene was termed XLT2 for Xyloglucan L-side chain galactosylTransferase position 2. It represents an enzyme in the same subclade of glycosyltransferase family 47 as MUR3. A double mutant defective in both MUR3 （mur3.1） and XLT2 led to an Arabidopsis plant with xyloglucan that consists essentially of only xylosylated glucosyl units, with no further substitutions.

A Bi-Functional Xyloglucan Galactosyltransferase Is an Indispensable Salt Stress Tolerance Determinant in Arabidopsis

Salinity is an abiotic stress that substantially limits crop production worldwide. To identify salt stress tolerance determinants, we screened for Arabidopsis mutants that are hypersensitive to salt stress and designated these mutants as short root in salt medium （rsa）. One of these mutants, rsa3-1, is hypersensitive to NaCI and LiCI but not to CsCI or to general osmotic stress. Reactive oxygen species （ROS） over-accumulate in rsa3-1 plants under salt stress. Gene expression profiling with Affymetrix microarray analysis revealed that RSA3 controls expression of many genes including genes encoding proteins for ROS detoxification under salt stress. Map-based cloning showed that RSA3 encodes a xyloglucan galactosyltransferase, which is allelic to a gene previously named MUR3/KAM1. The RSA3/ MUR3/KAMl-encoded xylogluscan galactosyltransferase regulates actin microfilament organization （and thereby con- tributes to endomembrane distribution） and is also involved in cell wall biosynthesis. In rsa3-1, actin cannot assemble and form bundles as it does in the wild-type but instead aggregates in the cytoplasm. Furthermore, addition of phal- Ioidin, which prevents actin depolymerization, can rescue salt hypersensitivity of rsa3-1. Together, these results sug- gest that RSA3/MUR3/KAM1 along with other cell wall-associated proteins plays a critical role in salt stress tolerance by maintaining the proper organization of actin microfilaments in order to minimize damage caused by excessive ROS.

Xyloglucan for Generating Tensile Stress to Bend Tree Stem

In response to environmental variation, angiosperm trees bend their stems by forming tension wood, which consists of a cellulose-rich G （gelatinous）-Iayer in the walls of fiber cells and generates abnormal tensile stress in the secondary xylem. We produced transgenic poplar plants overexpressing several endoglycanases to reduce each specific polysaccharide in the cell wall, as the secondary xylem consists of primary and secondary wall layers. When placed horizontally, the basal regions of stems of transgenic poplars overexpressing xyloglucanase alone could not bend upward due to low strain in the tension side of the xylem. In the wild-type plants, xyloglucan was found in the inner surface of G-layers during multiple layering. In situ xyloglucan endotransglucosylase （XET） activity showed that the incorporation of whole xyloglucan, potentially for wall tightening, began at the inner surface layers S1 and S2 and was retained throughout G-layer development, while the incorporation of xyloglucan heptasaccharide （XXXG） for wall loosening occurred in the primary wall of the expanding zone. We propose that the xyloglucan network is reinforced by XET to form a further connection between wall-bound and secreted xyloglucans in order to withstand the tensile stress created within the cellulose G-layer micro fibrils.

Hetero-trans-β-Glucanase Produces Cellulose-Xyloglucan Covalent Bonds in the Cell Walls of Structural Plant Tissues and Is Stimulated by Expansin

Current cell-wall models assume no covalent bonding between cellulose and hemicelluloses such as xyloglu-can or mixed-linkageβ-D-glucan(MLG).However,Equisetum hetero-trans-β-glucanase(HTG)grafts cellu-lose onto xyloglucan oligosaccharides(XGOs)-and,we now show,xyloglucan polysaccharide-in vitro,thus exhibiting CXE(cellulose:xyloglucan endotransglucosylase)activity.In addition,HTG also catalyzes MLG-to-XGO bonding(MXE activity).In this study,we explored the CXE action of HTG in native plant cell walls and tested whether expansin exposes cellulose to HTG by disrupting hydrogen bonds.To quantify and visu-alize CXE and MXE action,we assayed the sequential release of HTG products from cell walls pre-labeled with substrate mimics.We demonstrated covalent cellulose--xyloglucan bonding in plant cell walls and showed that CXE and MXE action was up to 15%and 60%of total transglucanase action,respectively,and peaked in aging,strengthening tissues:CXE in xylem and cells bordering intercellular canals and MXE in scleren-chyma.Recombinant bacterial expansin(EXLX1)strongly augmented CXE activity in vitro.CXE and MXE ac-tion in living Equisetum structural tissues potentially strengthens stems,while expansin might augment the HTG-catalyzed CXE reaction,thereby allowing efficient CXE action in muro.Our methods will enable surveys for comparable reactions throughout the plant kingdom.Furthermore,engineering similar hetero-polymer formation into angiosperm crop plants may improve certain agronomic traits such as lodging tolerance.

Pectin May Hinder the Unfolding of Xyloglucan Chains during Cell Deformation： Implications of the Mechanical Performance of Arabidopsis Hypocotyls with Pectin Alterations

Plant cell walls, like a multitude of other biological materials, are natural fiber-reinforced composite materials. Their mechanical properties are highly dependent on the interplay of the stiff fibrous phase and the soft matrix phase and on the matrix deformation itself. Using specific Arabidopsis thaliana mutants, we studied the mechanical role of the matrix assembly in primary cell walls of hypocotyls with altered xyloglucan and pectin composition. Standard microtensile tests and cyclic loading protocols were performed on tour1 hypocotyls with affected RGII borate diester cross-links and a hindered xyloglucan fucosylation as well as qua2 exhibiting 50% less homogalacturonan in comparison to wild-type. As a control, wild-type plants （Col-0） and mur2 exhibiting a specific xyloglucan fucosylation and no differences in the pectin network were utilized. In the standard tensile tests, the ultimate stress levels （-tensile strength） of the hypocotyls of the mutants with pectin alterations （mur1, qua2） were rather unaffected, whereas their tensile stiffness was noticeably reduced in comparison to Col-0. The cyclic loading tests indicated a stiffening of all hypocotyls after the first cycle and a plastic deformation during the first straining, the degree of which, however, was much higher for tour1 and qua2 hypocotyls. Based on the mechanical data and current cell wall models, it is assumed that folded xyloglucan chains between cellulose fibrils may tend to unfold during straining of the hypocotyls. This response is probably hindered by geometrical constraints due to pectin rigidity.

Plasticity of Xyloglucan Composition in Bean （Phaseolus vulgaris）-Cultured Cells during Habituation and Dehabituation to Lethal Concentrations of Dichlobenil

Bean cells that have been habituated to grow in a lethal concentration （12 μM） of 2,6-dichlorobenzonitrile （dichlobenil or DCB, a cellulose biosynthesis inhibitor） are known to have decreased cellulose content in their cell walls. Xyloglucan, which is bound to cellulose and together with it forms the main loading network of plant cell walls, has also been described to decrease in habituated cells, but whether the change on cellulose affects the xyloglucan structure besides its abundance has not been analyzed. Fragmentation analysis with xyloglucan-specific endoglucanase （XEG） and endocellulase revealed that habituation to DCB caused a change in the fine structure of xyloglucan, namely a decrease in fucosyl residues attached to the galactosyl-xylosyl residues along the glucan backbone. After the removal of herbicide from the medium （dehabituated cells）, xyloglucan recovered its fucosyl residues. In addition, some cello-oligosaccharides could be detected only in habituated cells＇ xyloglucan digested by XEG and endocellulase, corresponding to a glucan co- valently bound or co-precipitated with the hemicelluloses. These results show that structural flexibility of cell walls relies in part on the plasticity of xyloglucan composition and opens up new perspectives to further research in this field.

Characterization of Kiwifruit Xyloglucan

Structural characteristics of xyloglucan are constant in the pericarp cell walls of kiwifruit （Actinidia deliciosa） throughout fruit enlargement and maturation. Most of the xyioglucan （XG） persists in the cell walls of ripe kiwifruit. XG from the pericarp tissues of 36-h ethylene-treated kiwifruit was extracted as hemicellulose Ⅱ （HC-Ⅱ） with 4.28 M KOH containing 0.02% NaBH4, and purified using iodine precipitation and subsequent anion-exchange chromatography. This purifying protocol increased XG purity from 50 mol% in HC-Ⅱ fraction to 62 mol% in the purified XG powder. The molar ratio of glucose： xylose： galactose： fucose in the purified XG was 10： 6.9： 2.1： 0.3. Gel permeation chromatography indicated that purified XG had an average molecular-mass of 161 KDa, a value that exceeds the 95 KDa Mr determined for total polymeric sugars. Sugar linkage analysis confirmed the lack of fucose in the kiwifruit XG, but a small amount of arabinoxylan and low Mr glucomannan remained associated with this fraction.

The biosynthesis and wall-binding of hemicelluloses in cellulose-deficient maize cells:An example of metabolic plasticity

Cell-suspension cultures（Zea mays L.,Black Mexican sweet corn） habituated to 2,6-dichlorobenzonitrile（DCB） survive with reduced cellulose owing to hemicellulose network modification. We aimed to de fine the hemicellulose metabolism modifications in DCB-habituated maize cells showing a mild reduction in cellulose at different stages in the culture cycle. Using pulse-chase radiolabeling, we fed habituated and non-habituated cultures with [3H]arabinose,and traced the distribution of 3H-pentose residues between xylans, xyloglucans and other polymers in several cellular compartments for 5 h. Habituated cells were slower taking up exogenous [3H]arabinose. Tritium was incorporated into polysaccharide-bound arabinose and xylose residues, but habituated cells diverted a higher proportion of their new [3H]xylose residues into（hetero） xylans at the expense of xyloglucan synthesis. During logarithmic growth, habituated cells showed slower vesicular traf ficking of polymers,especially xylans. Moreover, habituated cells showed a decrease in the strong wall-binding of all pentose-containing polysaccharides studied; correspondingly, especially in log phase cultures, habituation increased the proportion of 3H-hemicelluloses（[3H]xylans and [3H]xyloglucan） sloughed into the medium. These findings could be related to the cel walls’ cellulose-deficiency, and consequent reduction in binding sites for hemicelluloses; the data could also re fl ect the habituated cells’ reduced capacity to integrate arabinox ylans by extra-protoplasmic phenolic cross-linking, as well as xyloglucans, during wall assembly.

Acceleration of Cell Growth by Xyloglucan Oligosaccharides in Suspension-Cultured Tobacco Cells

The incorporation of xyloglucan oligosaccharide （XXXG） into the walls of suspension-cultured tobacco cells accelerated cell expansion followed by cell division, changed cell shape from cylindrical to spherical, decreased cell size, and caused cell aggregation. Fluorescent XXXG added to the culture medium was found to be incorporated into the surface of the entire wall, where strong incorporation occurred not only on the surface, but also in the interface walls between cells during cell division. Cell expansion was always greater in the transverse direction than in the longitudinal direction and then, immediately, expansion led to cell division in the presence of XXXG; this process might result in the high level of cell aggregation seen in cultured tobacco cells. We concluded that the integration of this oligosaccharide into the walls could accelerate not only cell expansion, but also cell division in cultured cells.

The CELLULOSE-SYNTHASE LIKE C （CSLC） Family of Barley Includes Members that Are Integral Membrane Proteins Targeted to the Plasma Membrane

The CELLULOSE SYNTHASE-LIKE C （CSLC） family is an ancient lineage within the CELLULOSE SYNTHASE/CELLULOSE SYNTHASE-LIKE （CESA/CSL） polysaccharide synthase superfamily that is thought to have arisen before the divergence of mosses and vascular plants. As studies in the flowering plant Arabidopsis have suggested synthesis of the （1,4）-β-glucan backbone of xyloglucan （XyG）, a wall polysaccharide that tethers adjacent cellulose microfibrils to each other, as a probable function for the CSLCs, CSLC function was investigated in barley （Hordeum vulgate L.）, a species with low amounts of XyG in its walls. Four barley CSLCgenes were identified （designated HvCSLC1-4）. Phylogenetic analysis reveals three well supported clades of CSLCs in flowering plants, with barley having representatives in two of these clades. The four barley CSLCs were expressed in various tissues, with in situ PCR detecting transcripts in all cell types of the coleoptile and root, including cells with primary and secondary cell walls. Co-expression analysis showed that HvCSLC3 was coordinately expressed with putative XyG xylosyltransferase genes. Both immuno-EM and membrane fractionation showed that HvCSLC2 was located in the plasma membrane of barley suspension-cultured cells and was not in internal membranes such as endoplasmic reticulum or Golgi apparatus. Based on our current knowledge of the sub-cellular locations of polysaccharide synthesis, we conclude that the CSLC family probably contains more than one type of polysaccharide synthase.