In situ FTIR assessment of desiccation-tolerant tissues

W.F. Wolkers, F.A. Hoekstra

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

30 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

This essay shows how Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) microspectroscopy can be applied to study thermodynamic parameters and conformation of endogenous biomolecules in desiccation-tolerant biological tissues. Desiccation tolerance is the remarkable ability of some organisms to survive complete dehydration. Seed and pollen of higher plants are well known examples of desiccation-tolerant tissues. FTIR studies on the overall protein secondary structure indicate that during the acquisition of desiccation tolerance, plant embryos exhibit proportional increases in alpha-helical structures and that beta-sheet structures dominate upon drying of desiccation sensitive-embryos. During ageing of pollen and seeds, the overall protein secondary structure remains stable, whereas drastic changes in the thermotropic response of membranes occur, which coincide with a complete loss of viability. Properties of the cytoplasmic glassy matrix in desiccation-tolerant plant organs can be studied by monitoring the position of the OH-stretching vibration band of endogenous carbohydrates and proteins as a function of temperature. By applying these FTIR techniques to maturation-defective mutant seeds of Arabidopsis thaliana we were able to establish a correlation between macromolecular stability and desiccation tolerance. Taken together, in situ FTIR studies can give unique information on conformation and stability of endogenous biomolecules in desiccation-tolerant tissues.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)297-313
JournalSpectroscopy: an international journal
Volume17
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2003

Keywords

  • transform infrared-spectroscopy
  • protein secondary structure
  • electron-paramagnetic-resonance
  • typha-latifolia l
  • plant craterostigma-plantagineum
  • carrot somatic embryos
  • abscisic-acid
  • arabidopsis-thaliana
  • phase-transitions
  • seed development

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