IntroductionBoron (B) is an essential trace element for vascular plants. 1,2 We have been studying the chemical form and function of B in plants. [3][4][5][6][7][8][9] Our in vivo solution state 11 B NMR study revealed that B in plant tissues exists in two forms, that is, water-soluble and water-insoluble, which is in vivo NMR observable and unobservable, respectively, and that the water-soluble B is a borate ester with low-molecular-weight diol compounds (1:1 and 1:2) as well as boric acid (Fig. 1). 3,4 Matoh's group reported that water-insoluble B is located in the cell walls 10 and that a dimeric rhamnogalacturonan II-borate (dRG-II-B) complex, in which two monomeric RG-IIs are cross-linked by borate-diol (1:2) esterification, was isolated and identified from enzymatic digests of radish cell walls. 11 Recently, we showed that RG-II is covalently linked to homogalacturonan, a major component of pectin in plant cell walls, 7 and that dRG-II-B formation in cell walls contributes to wall stabilization.8 From these studies, we have concluded that the primary function of B in plants is to covalently cross-link wall pectin by dRG-II-B formation, and thereby to contribute to the strength and integrity of cell walls. 2,8 Solution NMR studies have proven that enzymatically solubilized dRG-II-B from cell walls has the borate-diol (1:2) structure; 5,6,9,11,12 however, there is no direct evidence that water-insoluble and solid state B in the cell walls is present as a borate-diol ester (1:2) that cross-links pectin molecules. Thus, a nondestructive analysis of the chemical form of B in plant cell walls is needed to confirm our conclusions regarding the function of B in these walls.Solid-state NMR is an emerging analytical methodology for molecular structure, which is not limited by either insolubility or difficulty in crystallization, and makes it possible to address a variety of structural and dynamic questions at atomic-level resolution. 13,14 The 11 B nucleus has an electric quadrupole moment (I = 3/2), which frequently gives rise to a characteristic asymmetric NMR line shape and difficulty in observing the isotropic chemical shift. 15 However, in a tetrahedral B environment the local electric field gradient (EFG) is small. Moreover, the quadrupole interaction is inversely proportional to the applied magnetic field. Therefore, we would be able to observe the isotropic chemical shift of 11 B in a tetrahedral configuration by using high-magnetic field NMR with magic angle spinning (MAS). Consequently, to clarify the chemical form of B in plant cell walls, we performed 192-and 96-MHz 11 B MAS NMR measurements for solid state dRG-II-B and plant cell wall (sugar beet fiber). The boron in plant cell walls, which is water-insoluble and in the solid state, is solubilized by pectinase digestion to give a dimeric rhamnogalacturonan II-borate (dRG-II-B) complex. To clarify the nondestructive structure of boron present in plant cell walls (as represented by sugar beet fiber), we performed 192-and 96-MHz 11 B solid state NMR measur...