title: Adhesion of plant roots to poly-L-lysine coated polypropylene substrates.
abstract: The ability to immobilize plant tissue in a bioreactor is an important process tool. We have shown that roots of several species rapidly attach to poly-L-lysine coated polypropylene mesh in a liquid environment. Using transformed roots of Artemisia annua as a model, the attachment process was found to be enhanced by sheep serum, but not BSA and inhibited by excess Mn(2+), but unaffected by Ca(2+) or Mg(2+). Attempts to characterize the molecule(s) responsible for binding using lectins and antibodies showed that the binding site does not appear to be glycosylated or vitronectin-like. This method of rapid attachment should prove useful for controlled immobilization of roots in bioreactors.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology/Biotechnology, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, 100 Institute Road, Worcester, MA 01609-2280, USA.
authors.forename: Melissa J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Towler
authors.forename: Pamela J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Weathers
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017360:Arabidopsis / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D031172:Artemisia annua / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D027461:Beta vulgaris / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D019149:Bioreactors; D002118:Calcium / Q000494:pharmacology; D002417:Cattle; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D020099:Coated Materials, Biocompatible / Q000494:pharmacology; D046508:Culture Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D008274:Magnesium / Q000494:pharmacology; D008345:Manganese / Q000494:pharmacology; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*; D011107:Polylysine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011126:Polypropylenes; D012231:Rhizobium / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D012710:Serum Albumin, Bovine / Q000494:pharmacology; D012756:Sheep; D013045:Species Specificity; D013379:Substrate Specificity
chemical_list: D020099:Coated Materials, Biocompatible; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D011126:Polypropylenes; D011107:Polylysine; D012710:Serum Albumin, Bovine; D008345:Manganese; D008274:Magnesium; D002118:Calcium