The authors received support from the EU project 690946 &#8216;SexSeed&#8217; (Sexual Plant Reproduction &#8211; Seed Formation) funded by H2020-MSCA-RISE-2015 and SeedWheels FCT PTDC/BIA-FBT/27839/2017. AMP received a grant from the European Union&#8217;s MSCA-IF-2016 project (no. 753328). MC received a grant from FCT PhD grant SFRH/BD/111781/2015.

1. Sample Preparation: fixation, dehydration, and LR-White embedding
<ol>
	<li>Fixation and dehydration 
	NOTE: The fixation process is critical to preserve the sample; by crosslinking molecules the cellular metabolism is stopped, ensuring cellular integrity and preventing molecular diffusion. Fixative agents and the concentration used must be adjusted to that purpose, leaving the antigens sufficiently exposed to interact with the antibodies. The following protocol combines the mild fixative capab...

<ol>
	<li>Keegstra, K. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Plant+Cell+Walls.">Plant Cell Walls.</a> Plant Physiology. 154 (2), 483-486 (2010).</li><li>Pereira, A. M., Lopes, A. L., Coimbra, S. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Arabinogalactan+Proteins+as+Interactors+along+the+Crosstalk+between+the+Pollen+Tube+and+the+Female+Tissues.">Arabinogalactan Proteins as Interactors along the Crosstalk between the Pollen Tube and the Female Tissues.</a> Frontiers in Plant Science. 7 (7), (2016).</li><li>Showalter, A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Arabinogalactan-proteins:+structure,+expression+and+function.">Arabinogalactan-proteins: structure, expression and function.</a> Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences. 58 (10), 1399-1417 (2001).</li><li>Majewska-Sawka, A., Nothnagel, E. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+multiple+roles+of+arabinogalactan+proteins+in+plant+development.">The multiple roles of arabinogalactan proteins in plant development.</a> Plant Physiology. 122, 3-9 (2000).</li><li>Seifert, G., Roberts, K. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+biology+of+arabinogalactan+proteins.">The biology of arabinogalactan proteins.</a> Annual Review of Plant Biology. 58, 137-161 (2007).</li><li>Ruprecht, C., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+Synthetic+Glycan+Microarray+Enables+Epitope+Mapping+of+Plant+Cell+Wall+Glycan-Directed+Antibodies.">A Synthetic Glycan Microarray Enables Epitope Mapping of Plant Cell Wall Glycan-Directed Antibodies.</a> Plant Physiology. 175 (3), 1094-1104 (2017).</li><li>Verhertbruggen, Y., Walker, J. L., Guillon, F., Scheller, H. V. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+Comparative+Study+of+Sample+Preparation+for+Staining+and+Immunodetection+of+Plant+Cell+Walls+by+Light+Microscopy.">A Comparative Study of Sample Preparation for Staining and Immunodetection of Plant Cell Walls by Light Microscopy.</a> Frontiers in Plant Science. 29 (8), 1505 (2017).</li><li>Osborn, M., Weber, K. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Immunofluorescence+and+immunocytochemical+procedures+with+affinity+purified+antibodies:+tubulin+containing+structures.">Immunofluorescence and immunocytochemical procedures with affinity purified antibodies: tubulin containing structures.</a> Methods in Cell Biology. 24, 97-132 (1982).</li><li>Coimbra, S., Almeida, J., Junqueira, V., Costa, M., Pereira, L. G. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Arabinogalactan+proteins+as+molecular+markers+in+Arabidopsis+thaliana+sexual+reproduction.">Arabinogalactan proteins as molecular markers in Arabidopsis thaliana sexual reproduction.</a> Journal of Experimental Botany. 58 (15), 4027-4035 (2007).</li><li>Wilson, S. M., Bacic, A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Preparation+of+plant+cells+for+transmission+electron+microscopy+to+optimize+immunogold+labeling+of+carbohydrate+and+protein+epitopes.">Preparation of plant cells for transmission electron microscopy to optimize immunogold labeling of carbohydrate and protein epitopes.</a> Nature Protocols. 7 (9), 1716-1727 (2012).</li><li>Gane, A., Clarke, A., Bacic, A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Localization+and+expression+of+arabinogalactan-proteins+in+the+ovaries+of+Nicotiana+alata+Link+and+Otto.">Localization and expression of arabinogalactan-proteins in the ovaries of Nicotiana alata Link and Otto.</a> Sex Plant Reproduction. 8, 278-282 (1995).</li><li>Coimbra, S., Salema, R. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Immunolocalization+of+arabinogalactan+proteins+in+Amaranthus+hypocondriacus+L.+ovules.">Immunolocalization of arabinogalactan proteins in Amaranthus hypocondriacus L. ovules.</a> Protoplasma. 199 (1-2), 75-82 (1997).</li><li>Coimbra, S., Duarte, C. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Arabinogalactan+proteins+may+facilitate+the+movement+of+pollen+tubes+from+the+stigma+to+the+ovules+in+Actinidia+deliciosa+and+Amaranthus+hypocondriacus.">Arabinogalactan proteins may facilitate the movement of pollen tubes from the stigma to the ovules in Actinidia deliciosa and Amaranthus hypocondriacus.</a> Euphytica. 133 (2), 171-178 (2003).</li><li>El-Tantawy, A., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Arabinogalactan+protein+profiles+and+distribution+patterns+during+microspore+embryogenesis+and+pollen+development+in+Brassica+napus.">Arabinogalactan protein profiles and distribution patterns during microspore embryogenesis and pollen development in Brassica napus.</a> Plant Reproduction. 26 (3), 231-243 (2013).</li><li>Costa, M., Pereira, A. M., Rudall, P. J., Coimbra, S. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Immunolocalization+of+arabinogalactan+proteins+(AGPs)+in+reproductive+structures+of+an+early-divergent+angiosperm,+Trithuria+submersa+(Hydatellaceae).">Immunolocalization of arabinogalactan proteins (AGPs) in reproductive structures of an early-divergent angiosperm, Trithuria submersa (Hydatellaceae).</a> Annals of Botany. 111 (2), 183-190 (2013).</li><li>Costa, M., Sobral, R., Ribeiro Costa, M. M., Amorim, M. I., Coimbra, S. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Evaluation+of+the+presence+of+arabinogalactan+proteins+and+pectins+during+Quercus+suber+male+gametogenesis.">Evaluation of the presence of arabinogalactan proteins and pectins during Quercus suber male gametogenesis.</a> Annals of Botany. 115 (1), 81-92 (2015).</li><li>Hibbs, A. R. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Fluorescence+Immunolabelling.">Fluorescence Immunolabelling.</a> Confocal Microscopy for Biologists. , (2004).</li><li>Johnson, G. D., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Fading+of+Immunofluorescence+during+microscopy:+A+Study+of+the+Phenomenon+and+its+Remedy.">Fading of Immunofluorescence during microscopy: A Study of the Phenomenon and its Remedy.</a> Journal of Immunological Methods. 55 (2), 231-242 (1982).</li><li>Baird, T. R., Kaufman, D., Brown, M. C. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Mercury+Free+Microscopy:+An+Opportunity+for+Core+Facility+Directors.">Mercury Free Microscopy: An Opportunity for Core Facility Directors.</a> Journal of Biomolecular Techniques. 25 (2), 48-53 (2014).</li><li>Weber, G. F., Menko, A. S. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Color+image+acquisition+using+a+monochrome+camera+and+standard+fluorescence+filter+cubes.">Color image acquisition using a monochrome camera and standard fluorescence filter cubes.</a> BioTechniques. 38 (1), 52-56 (2005).</li></ol>

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

The fluorescent immunolocalization method in plants here described, while seamlessly straightforward, relies on the success of several small steps. The first of which is sample preparation and fixation. During this first step, a mixture of formaldehyde and glutaraldehyde is used to crosslink the majority of the cell components. The formaldehyde in the solution provides a mild and reversible fixation while the glutaraldehyde provides a strong more permanent linkage; the balance between the two fixatives provides the appro...

Plant cell walls are complex structures composed of polysaccharides and glycoproteins. Cell walls are extremely dynamic structures whose architecture, organization and composition vary according to cell type, localization, developmental stage, external and internal stimuli1. Arabinogalactan proteins (AGPs) and pectins are important components of the plant cell wall. AGPs are highly glycosylated proteins and pectins are homogalacturonan polysaccharides whose composition, amount and structure vary greatly during different plant developmental stages2,3,4. AGPs and pectin studies have revealed their involvement in several plant processes such as programmed cell death, response to abiotic stresses, sexual plant reproduction, among many others5. Most of these studies started with information obtained from immunolocalization studies.
Given its complexity, the study of cell walls requires many different tools. Detection of glycan epitopes using monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) is a valuable approach to resolve polysaccharide and glycoprotein distribution along this structure. There is a large collection of mAbs available to detect glycan epitopes and the specificity of each mAb is continuously being improved as well6. The technique here described is applicable to all plant species, and is a perfect tool to guide future research directions that might involve more expensive and complex techniques.
In this technique, specific antibodies are chemically conjugated to fluorescent dyes such as FITC (fluorescein isothiocyanate), TRITC (tetramethylrhodamine-5-(and 6)-isothiocyanate) or several Alexa Fluor dyes. Immunofluorescence offers several advantages, allowing a clear and quick subcellular localization of glycans that can be directly observed under a fluorescence microscope. It is highly specific and sensitive, since the preparation of the sample can effectively protect the natural structure of the antigen, even if present in lower amounts. It allows the detection of multiple antigens in the same sample and most important, offers high quality and visually beautiful results. Despite the great power offered by fluorescence immunolocalization studies, they are often regarded as difficult to perform and implement most probably due to the lack of detailed protocols allowing the visualization of the different steps of the procedure. Here, we provide some simple guidelines on how to perform this technique and how to obtain high quality images.
For the protocol presented here, samples must first be fixed and embedded using the most appropriate fixative. Although considered as a time consuming and relatively tedious technique, proper fixation and embedding of the plant sample is the key to ensure a successful immunolocalization assay. For this purpose, the most usual is chemical fixation using crosslinking fixatives, like aldehydes. Cross-linking fixatives establish chemical bonds between molecules of the tissue, stabilizing and hardening the sample. Formaldehyde and glutaraldehyde are cross-linking fixatives, and sometimes a mix of both fixatives is used7. Formaldehyde offers great structural preservation of tissues and for extended periods of time, producing small tissue retractions and being compatible with immunostaining. Glutaraldehyde is a stronger and stable fixative usually used in combination with formaldehyde. The use of glutaraldehyde has some disadvantages that must be taken into account as it introduces some free aldehyde groups into the fixed tissue, which may generate some unspecific labeling. Also the crosslinking between proteins and other molecules occasionally may render some target epitopes inaccessible for the antibodies. To avoid this, the quantity and duration of the fixation must be carefully defined.
After fixation, samples are embedded in the proper resin to harden before obtaining the sections. London Resin (LR-White) acrylic resin is the resin of choice for immunolocalization studies. Unlike other resins, LR-White is hydrophilic, allowing the antibodies to reach their antigens, with no need of any treatment to facilitate it. LR-White has also the advantage of offering low auto-fluorescence, allowing a reduction in background noise during immunofluorescence imaging.
There are many staining techniques available to detect different components of the cell wall, such as Alcian blue staining, toluidine blue staining or Periodic acid&#8211;Schiff (PAS) staining. None of these offers the power of immunolocalization analyses8. This approach gives greater specificity in the detection of glycans, offering vaster information regarding cell wall composition and structure.

<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="width:728px;" width="728">
	<colgroup>
		<col />
		<col />
		<col />
		<col />
	</colgroup>
	<tbody>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:247px;">25% (w/v) Gluteraldehyde</td>
			<td style="width:99px;">Agar Scientific</td>
			<td style="width:196px;">AGR1010</td>
			<td style="width:187px;">aq. Solution, methanol free</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:247px;">8 wells Glass reaction slides</td>
			<td style="width:99px;">Marinfeld</td>
			<td style="width:196px;">MARI1216750</td>
			<td style="width:187px;">other brands may be used</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:247px;">Acetic acid</td>
			<td style="width:99px;">Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td style="width:196px;">A6283</td>
			<td style="width:187px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:247px;">Anti-Rat IgG (wole molecule)-FITC antibody produce in GOAT</td>
			<td style="width:99px;">Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td style="width:196px;">F6258</td>
			<td style="width:187px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="63">
			<td height="63" style="height:63px;width:247px;">cover slips, 24 mm x 50 mm</td>
			<td style="width:99px;">Marinfeld</td>
			<td>MARI0100222</td>
			<td style="width:187px;">The cover slip should cover all the wells. Other brands may be used&#160;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="25">
			<td height="25" style="height:25px;width:247px;">ddH2O</td>
			<td style="width:99px;">na</td>
			<td style="width:196px;">na</td>
			<td style="width:187px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:247px;">Ethanol absolute</td>
			<td style="width:99px;">na</td>
			<td style="width:196px;">na</td>
			<td style="width:187px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:247px;">Fluorescent brightner 28</td>
			<td style="width:99px;">Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td style="width:196px;">F-6259</td>
			<td style="width:187px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:247px;">Gelatin capsules</td>
			<td style="width:99px;">Agar scientific</td>
			<td>AGG29211</td>
			<td style="width:187px;">The capsule size sould feat the size of the sample.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="147">
			<td height="147" style="height:147px;width:247px;">Glass vials</td>
			<td style="width:99px;">na</td>
			<td style="width:196px;">na</td>
			<td style="width:187px;">Any simple unexpensive glass vials that can be sealed, may be used. The vials may be clean with 96% etanol after use to remove LR-White residue and reused.&#160;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="294">
			<td height="294" style="height:294px;width:247px;">LR-white medium grade, embdeding resin</td>
			<td style="width:99px;">Agar Scientific</td>
			<td>AGR1281</td>
			<td style="width:187px;">LR-White comes in several forms the medium grade provides na adequate cutting suport for most tissues for harder tissues a harder grade of LR-white may be recomendable. If possible use a resin already mixed with the polimeration activator (benzoyl peroxide), if not please folow the instructions of the suplier to prepare the resin.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:247px;">Non fat dry milk</td>
			<td style="width:99px;">Nestl&#233;</td>
			<td style="width:196px;">na</td>
			<td style="width:187px;">any non fat dry milk is adequate</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:247px;">Oven</td>
			<td style="width:99px;">na</td>
			<td style="width:196px;">na</td>
			<td style="width:187px;">generic laboratory oven</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:247px;">Petri dish, 10 cm x 10 cm square</td>
			<td style="width:99px;">na</td>
			<td style="width:196px;">na</td>
			<td style="width:187px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:247px;">PIPES</td>
			<td style="width:99px;">Sigma Aldrich</td>
			<td style="width:196px;">P1851</td>
			<td style="width:187px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="357">
			<td height="357" style="height:357px;width:247px;">Rat generated Monoclonal Anti-Body</td>
			<td style="width:99px;">Plant probes</td>
			<td style="width:196px;">na</td>
			<td style="width:187px;">Several antibodies that recognize cell wall components are 
			available at both the Complex Carbohydrate research center 
			(CCRC, Georgia University USA) and Plant Probes (Paul 
			Knox Cell Wall Lab, at Leeds University UK). A short list of 
			some commonly used MABS and where they can be purchased 
			is presented in Supplemental Table 1</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:247px;">Razor blades</td>
			<td style="width:99px;">na</td>
			<td style="width:196px;">na</td>
			<td style="width:187px;">regular razor blades</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:247px;">SDS</td>
			<td style="width:99px;">Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td style="width:196px;">L6026</td>
			<td style="width:187px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:247px;">Toluidine Blue-O</td>
			<td style="width:99px;">Agar Scientific</td>
			<td>AGR1727</td>
			<td style="width:187px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:247px;">Tween 20</td>
			<td style="width:99px;">Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td style="width:196px;">P9416</td>
			<td style="width:187px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:247px;">Ultramicrotome</td>
			<td style="width:99px;">Leica Microsystems</td>
			<td style="width:196px;">UC7</td>
			<td style="width:187px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="63">
			<td height="63" style="height:63px;width:247px;">upright epifluorescence microscope with UV and FITC fluorescence filters</td>
			<td style="width:99px;">Leica Mycrosistems</td>
			<td style="width:196px;">DMLb</td>
			<td style="width:187px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:247px;">vaccum chamber</td>
			<td style="width:99px;">na</td>
			<td style="width:196px;">na</td>
			<td style="width:187px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:247px;">vaccum pump</td>
			<td style="width:99px;">na</td>
			<td style="width:196px;">na</td>
			<td style="width:187px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="297">
			<td height="297" style="height:297px;width:247px;">Vectashield</td>
			<td style="width:99px;">vecta Labs</td>
			<td style="width:196px;">T-1000</td>
			<td style="width:187px;">Other anti-fade may be used. Please do check for compatibility with FITC and the Fluorescente brightner 28. (Note: for a non-commercial alternative, (see Jonhson et al 198218) An antifade medium can be made by mixing 25 mg/mL of 1,4-Diazobicyclo-(2,2,2)octane (DABCO) in 9:1 (v/v) glycerol to 1xPBS. Adjust pH to 8.6 with diluted HCl.)</td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

fluorescent immunolocalization of arabinogalactan proteins and pectins in the cell wall of plant tissues

Plant development involves constant adjustments of the cell wall composition and structure in response to both internal and external stimuli. Cell walls are composed of cellulose and non-cellulosic polysaccharides together with proteins, phenolic compounds and water. 90% of the cell wall is composed of&#160;polysaccharides (e.g., pectins) and arabinogalactan proteins (AGPs). The fluorescent immunolocalization of specific glycan epitopes in plant histological sections remains a key tool to uncover remodeling of wall polysaccharide networks, structure and components.
Here, we report an optimized fluorescent immunolocalization procedure to detect glycan epitopes from AGPs and pectins in plant tissues. Paraformaldehyde/glutaraldehyde fixation was used along with LR-White embedding of the plant samples, allowing for a better preservation of the tissue structure and composition. Thin sections of the embedded samples obtained with an ultra-microtome were used for immunolocalization with specific antibodies. This technique offers great resolution, high specificity, and the chance to detect multiple glycan epitopes in the same sample. This technique allows subcellular localization of glycans and detects their level of accumulation in the cell wall. It also permits the determination of spatio-temporal patterns of AGP and pectin distribution during developmental processes. The use of this tool may ultimately guide research directions and link glycans to specific functions in plants. Furthermore, the information obtained can complement biochemical and gene expression studies.

In a successful experiment, the secondary antibody will specifically pinpoint the location of the specific epitope in bright green, in a consistent manner, allowing for the characterization of the cell wall composition at a certain development stage of the cell, tissue or organ. For example the LM6 antibody has an high affinity for 1,5-arabinan, a compound with type-I rhamnogalacturonan that can be found abundantly labelling the cell wall of the developing Quercus suber anther (Figure 2A</st...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Fluorescent Immunolocalization of Arabinogalactan Proteins and Pectins in the Cell Wall of Plant Tissues at JoVE.com

Fluorescent Immunolocalization of Arabinogalactan Proteins and Pectins in the Cell Wall of Plant Tissues

This protocol describes in detail how the plant material for immunolocalization of Arabinogalactan proteins and pectins is fixed, embedded in a hydrophilic acrylic resin, sectioned and mounted on glass slides. We show cell wall related epitopes will be detected with specific antibodies.

Plant development involves constant adjustments of the cell wall composition and structure in response to both internal and external stimuli. Cell walls ...

The amount of information from only one experiment is enormous. We can detect the presence of these cell wall polymers and know exactly how they are distributed in cells and tissues, and even determine their abundance. This method is designed in such a way that it can be applied to almost any kind of plant tissue from any species one may want to analyze.Immunolocalization in plant tissues involves a lot of meticulous work, difficult to explain without actually seeing what happens. Before collecting the plant tissue sample, fill a glass vial with enough cold fixative solution to completely submerge all the samples. Then select the plant tissues to be analyzed and trim the samples to a size of no more than 16 square millimeters.Immediately immerse the samples in the fixative solution. Glutaraldehyde and formaldehyde are both excellent fixatives, but both are hazardous and must be handled in the flow hood. Transfer the vial to a vacuum chamber and slowly apply vacuum.When the pressure reaches negative 60 kilo pascals, the floating material in the vial will start to sink to the bottom. Maintain the pressure in the chamber at no more than negative 80 kilo pascals. The sinking process may take up to two hours.After the samples have been in the vacuum chamber for two hours, slowly release the vacuum. Seal the glass vial and refrigerate it overnight at four degrees Celsius. After the overnight fixation, discard any samples that didn't sink to the bottom of the vial.Wash the remaining samples with 25 millimolar PBS for 10 minutes and then wash them in 25 millimolar PIPES buffer for 20 minutes. It is extremely important to remove all floating samples because it's highly probable that the fixative has not penetrated the sample. Dehydrate the samples in an ethanol series, immersing the samples for 20 minutes at each ethanol concentration.To perfuse the samples, add increasing concentrations of LR-white resin in ethanol, beginning with one part resin to three parts ethanol. At each concentration, incubate for 24 hours at four degrees Celsius. Replace the LR-white resin with fresh resin and incubate the samples for an additional 12 hours at four degrees Celsius.Prepare the embedding gelatin capsules, selecting capsules that are slightly larger than the samples so that the samples can be completely enclosed in the resin. Label paper tags with pencil because ink will contaminate the resin. Apply one drop of fresh LR-white resin to the bottom of each capsule.Place a sample in each capsule, then fill the capsules to maximum capacity with fresh resin. Put the cap on the capsule and press gently to seal it. To polymerize the resin, cure the capsules at 58 degrees Celsius until fully hardened around 24 to 48 hours.After peeling the gelatin capsule from the LR-white resin, place the resin block under the stereo microscope. Using a sharp razor blade, trim the LR-white block at a 45 degree angle to the sample. Rotate the sample and make a second cut at a 90 degree angle to the first.Continue cutting in the same pattern to form a pyramid with the apex of the pyramid directly above the sample's area of interest, then begin removing fine slices perpendicular to the major axis until the cutting surface reaches the sample. The target sample should ideally be enclosed in a trapezoid shape. Place the trimmed resin block in the ultra microtome.Adjust the angle between the knife edge and the resin block. Cut sections from the block with a thickness between 200 and 700 nanometers. Use a wire loop to carefully lift some sampled sections from the microtome.Place them in a drop of distilled deionized water on a glass slide. Evaporate the water by placing the slide on a hot plate at 50 degrees Celsius, then add a drop of stain to the sections. After 30 seconds, rinse off the stain and observe the slide under the microscope to verify the general state of the section and that the desired plant structure is visible.Prepare a clean reaction slide by placing a drop of distilled deionized water in each well of the slide. Transfer one or two sample sections to each drop of water. Place the slide in a 10 centimeter square Petri dish, cover it and let it dry at 50 degrees Celsius.To prepare an incubation chamber for the reaction slides, place some dampened paper towels at the bottom of a pipette tips box and wrap the box with aluminum foil. Transfer the slides from the box to the incubation chamber. Pipette 50 microliters of blocking solution into each well.After incubating the slide for 10 minutes, remove the blocking solution, then wash all the wells twice with PBS for 10 minutes each time. After preparing the primary antibody solutions as described in the manuscript, perform a final wash of the wells with distill deionized water for five minutes. Pipette the primary antibody solution into the reaction wells, then pipette the blocking solution into the control wells.Close the incubation chamber. Let it stand for two hours at room temperature and then refrigerate it overnight at four degrees Celsius. Prepare a 1%solution of the secondary antibody in blocking solution.Approximately 40 microliters per well will be needed. Cover the solution with aluminum foil. Wash the wells of the reaction slide twice with PBS and once with distilled deionized water for 10 minutes each time.Ensure that no blocking solution or deposits remain in the wells. Pipette the secondary antibody solution into all the wells. Incubate the slides in the dark at room temperature for three to four hours.Again, wash the wells of the reaction slide twice with PBS and once with distilled deionized water, then add a drop of Calcofluor White to each well. Without washing, add a drop of mounting medium to each well and cover each well with a coverslip. Observe the sample sections in the reaction slide using a fluorescence microscope.For each observation, use a UV filter to detect cell walls stained by the Calcofluor and a FITC filter to detect immunolocalization. For a better visualization of the results, use ImageJ or a similar image analysis program to merge each UV filter image with the corresponding FITC filter image. By pinpointing the localization of specific epitopes, the protocol enables characterization of the cell wall composition.For example, 1, 5-arabinan is abundant in the cell wall of the developing Quercus suber anther. Scarcely esterified homogalacturonans are typically found at the root tip of Quercus suber embryo specifying mechanical properties of the organ. Xylogalacturonans are found in degenerating cells, such as the endosperm cell during the final stages of the Quercus suber acorn maturation.AGP's epitopes recognized by JIM13 or JIM8 are found on structures related to reproduction, such as cell lines related to microgametogenesis in Arabidopsis thaliana and the stigmatic papillae and microbial of the basal angiosperm Trithuria submersa. Common mistakes in implementing this protocol are usually easy to detect and identify. When the washes are skipped or the reaction wells are allowed to dry, the secondary antibody will usually appear as a smear.Aggregates of green fluorochrome will form if the unbound primary antibody is not properly washed away. Folding or detachment of the sections is usually related to poor adhesion due to the use of unclean slides or aggressive washing. Sample preparation is also critical.The resin blocks should be free of cracks with a clearly visible pale yellow to light brown sample. Inefficiently embedded samples will show powdery white spots or areas. Keeping the sample size under eight millimeters is essential for penetration of the fixative solution.Poorly fixed samples will appear dark brown or almost black. Excessive temperature can cause the resin to crack making sectioning of the sample impossible. The use of immunolocalization techniques open several research directions.One can follow on with more specific techniques such as biochemical analysis of the cell wall or even proceed to a molecular approach. The results provided by this technique can help to understand the composition of the cell wall, an extremely complex structure very difficult to analyze by simple chemical analysis.

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JoVE Journal

Developmental Biology

6.0K vistas.  Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade do Porto. La cantidad de información de un solo experimento es enorme. Podemos detectar la presencia de estos polímeros de pared celular y saber exactamente cómo se distribuyen en células y tejidos, e incluso determinar su abundancia. Este método está diseñado de tal manera que se puede aplicar a casi cualquier tipo de tejido vegetal de cualquier especie que uno pueda querer analizar.La inmunolocalización en los tejidos vegetales implica mucho trabajo meticuloso, difícil de explicar sin...