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Permeability and Ultrastructure of Bundle Sheath Cells Isolated from C 4 Plants: Structure‐Function Studies and the Role of Plasmodesmata
Author(s) -
Valle E. M.,
Craig S.,
Hatch M. D.,
Heldt H. W.
Publication year - 1989
Publication title -
botanica acta
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.871
H-Index - 87
eISSN - 1438-8677
pISSN - 0932-8629
DOI - 10.1111/j.1438-8677.1989.tb00105.x
Subject(s) - plasmodesma , vascular bundle , ultrastructure , biophysics , microbiology and biotechnology , cell wall , xylem , plant cell , bundle , intracellular , chemistry , plasmolysis , biology , anatomy , botany , biochemistry , materials science , gene , composite material
Bundle sheath cells from leaves of C 4 plants can be isolated as strands surrounding vascular tissue. In this form these cells are highly permeable to metabolites and, as a consequence, they have a variety of experimental uses. The present paper reports on anatomical and ultrastructural features of isolated bundle sheath cell strands in relation to their integrity and permeability. This analysis shows that the cells retain a high degree of structural integrity during isolation. The plasmodesmata that originally connected the bundle sheath cytosol with mesophyll cells are apparently also retained in their entirety. However, at the external surface (mesophyll side) a membranous sac was commonly observed protruding from the end of plasmodesmata. The functional integrity of cells and the molecular weight exclusion limit for entry of compounds was assessed by following plasmolysis and cytorrhysis induced by polyethylene glycol solutions of varying molecular weights. Other evidence for the retention of cell compartment semipermeability is also provided.