Report on the Current Inventory of the Toolbox for Plant Cell Wall Analysis: Proteinaceous and Small Molecular Probes

Abstract

Plant cell walls are highly complex structures composed of diverse classes of polysaccharides, proteoglycans, and polyphenolics, which have numerous roles throughout the life of a plant. Significant research efforts aim to understand the biology of this cellular organelle and to facilitate cell-wall-based industrial applications. To accomplish this, researchers need to be provided with a variety of sensitive and specific detection methods for separate cell wall components, and their various molecular characteristics in vitro as well as in situ. Cell wall component-directed molecular detection probes (in short: cell wall probes, CWPs) are an essential asset to the plant glycobiology toolbox. To date, a relatively large set of CWPs has been produced—mainly consisting of monoclonal antibodies, carbohydrate-binding modules, synthetic antibodies produced by phage display, and small molecular probes. In this review, we summarize the state-of-the-art knowledge about these CWPs; their classification and their advantages and disadvantages in different applications. In particular, we elaborate on the recent advances in non-conventional approaches to the generation of novel CWPs, and identify the remaining gaps in terms of target recognition. This report also highlights the addition of new “compartments” to the probing toolbox, which is filled with novel chemical biology tools, such as metabolic labeling reagents and oligosaccharide conjugates. In the end, we also forecast future developments in this dynamic field.

One, Two, Three: A Bioorthogonal Triple Labelling Strategy for Studying the Dynamics of Plant Cell Wall Formation In Vivo

“…[1][2][3] Many groups have focused on the use of reaction-based fluorescent probes for chemoselective bioimaging in mammalian living systems,but plants have generally received less attention despite the fact that they are complex multicellular eukaryotes.Plant cells are characterized by the presence of an extra-cellular matrix called the cell wall that is made up of different polymers (e.g., cellulose,h emicelluloses,p ectins, lignin). [1][2][3] Many groups have focused on the use of reaction-based fluorescent probes for chemoselective bioimaging in mammalian living systems,but plants have generally received less attention despite the fact that they are complex multicellular eukaryotes.Plant cells are characterized by the presence of an extra-cellular matrix called the cell wall that is made up of different polymers (e.g., cellulose,h emicelluloses,p ectins, lignin).…”

“…Over the last two decades bioorthogonal reactions,c ombined with fluorescence microscopy,h ave proven to be ap owerful tool for generating novel biological information in awide variety of in vivo molecular imaging applications. [1][2][3] Many groups have focused on the use of reaction-based fluorescent probes for chemoselective bioimaging in mammalian living systems,but plants have generally received less attention despite the fact that they are complex multicellular eukaryotes.Plant cells are characterized by the presence of an extra-cellular matrix called the cell wall that is made up of different polymers (e.g., cellulose,h emicelluloses,p ectins, lignin). To date,bioorthogonal approaches have been used in plants to investigate polysaccharide and lignin biosynthesis using tagged sugars or monolignols as reporters in in vivo labelling experiments, [4][5][6][7][8][9] as well as auxin.…”

A Profusion of Molecular Scissors for Pectins: Classification, Expression, and Functions of Plant Polygalacturonases

“…To illuminate the ways in which PGs function in developmental processes, a comprehensive regulatory network needs to be built based on well-studied pathways that regulate PG expression and activity. As a wider suite of dyes and antibodies become available for observing pectin dynamics ( Mravec et al, 2014 , 2017 ; Pattathil et al, 2015 ; Anderson, 2016 ; Rydahl et al, 2018 ; Voiniciuc et al, 2018 ), we can dive into the mechanisms of PG action in cell wall dynamics. These and other studies can help us gain insights into the role of pectins in plant cell wall construction and dynamics as well as their relationships with other cell wall components.…”

One, Two, Three: A Bioorthogonal Triple Labelling Strategy for Studying the Dynamics of Plant Cell Wall Formation In Vivo

“…Over the last two decades bioorthogonal reactions, combined with fluorescence microscopy, have proven to be a powerful tool for generating novel biological information in a wide variety of in vivo molecular imaging applications . Many groups have focused on the use of reaction‐based fluorescent probes for chemoselective bioimaging in mammalian living systems, but plants have generally received less attention despite the fact that they are complex multicellular eukaryotes.…”