Biomechanical Characterization of Onion Epidermal Cell Walls

Overview

Journal Bio Protoc

Specialty Biology

Date 2021 Oct 1

PMID 34595320

Citations 5

Authors

Daniel M Durachko

Yong Bum Park

Tian Zhang

Daniel J Cosgrove

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Here we describe two experimental protocols to measure the biomechanical properties of primary (growing) plant cell walls, with a focus on analyzing cell wall epidermal strips of onion scales. The first protocol measures cell wall creep (time-dependent irreversible extension) under constant force. Such creep is often mediated by the wall-loosening action of expansin or selective endoglucanases. The second protocol is based on two consecutive stretches of the wall and measures the wall's elastic and plastic compliances, which depend on cell wall structure. These two assays provide complementary information that may be linked to cell wall structure and expansive growth of cells.

Citing Articles

The nonlinear mechanics of highly extensible plant epidermal cell walls.

Yu J, Zhang Y, Cosgrove D Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2024; 121(2):e2316396121.

PMID: 38165937 PMC: 10786299. DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2316396121.

Expansin-mediated developmental and adaptive responses: A matter of cell wall biomechanics?.

Samalova M, Gahurova E, Hejatko J Quant Plant Biol. 2023; 3:e11.

PMID: 37077967 PMC: 10095946. DOI: 10.1017/qpb.2022.6.

Cryo-electron tomography of the onion cell wall shows bimodally oriented cellulose fibers and reticulated homogalacturonan networks.

Nicolas W, Fassler F, Dutka P, Schur F, Jensen G, Meyerowitz E Curr Biol. 2022; 32(11):2375-2389.e6.

PMID: 35508170 PMC: 9240970. DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2022.04.024.

Saccharide analysis of onion outer epidermal walls.

Wilson L, Deligey F, Wang T, Cosgrove D Biotechnol Biofuels. 2021; 14(1):66.

PMID: 33722273 PMC: 7962260. DOI: 10.1186/s13068-021-01923-z.

Pectin methylesterase selectively softens the onion epidermal wall yet reduces acid-induced creep.

Wang X, Wilson L, Cosgrove D J Exp Bot. 2020; 71(9):2629-2640.

PMID: 32006044 PMC: 7210771. DOI: 10.1093/jxb/eraa059.

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