A. Jauneau et al., POLYSACCHARIDE DISTRIBUTION IN THE CELLULAR JUNCTIONS OF IMMATURE FIBER CELLS OF FLAX SEEDLINGS, Histochemical Journal, 26(3), 1994, pp. 226-232
The characteristic features of the pectins present in the walls of imm
ature fibre cells of the hypocotyl of flax seedlings have been studied
by a combination of three subtractive methods (treatment with boiling
water, calcium chelator, and free endopolygalacturonase), three stain
ing reactions (periodic acid-thiocarbohydrazide-silver, Ruthenium Red,
and ferric hydroxylamine) and labelling with an endopolygalacturonase
-gold probe. The primary wall and the periphery of the tricellular jun
ctions were shown to contain pectic molecules made of blocks either wi
th free acidic functions or methyl-esterified, these molecules being r
emoved from the wall by splitting alpha(1-4) linkages. On the contrary
, the pectic molecules in the core of the tricellular junctions were m
ainly with free acidic groups, but with an appreciable acetylesterific
ation of their hydroxyl groups; and they were linked with one another
chiefly by calcium bonds. This unexpected constitution of the core of
the tricellular junctions may be considered to be an early marker of t
he cells destined to give rise to the fibre bundles of the mature plan
t.