title: Oxylipin-coated hat-shaped ascospores of Ascoidea corymbosa.
abstract: We previously implicated 3-hydroxy oxylipins and ascospore structure in ascospore release from enclosed asci. Using confocal laser scanning microscopy on cells stained with fluorescein-coupled, 3-hydroxy oxylipin-specific antibodies, we found that oxylipins are specifically associated with ascospores and not the vegetative cells or ascus wall of Ascoidea corymbosa. Using gas chromatography--mass spectrometry the oxylipin 3-hydroxy 17:0 could be identified. Here, we visualize for the first time the forced release of oxylipin-coated, hat-shaped ascospores from terminally torn asci, probably through turgor pressure. We suggest that oxylipin-coated, razor-sharp, hat-shaped ascospore brims may play a role in rupturing the ascus to affect release.
authors.affiliation: UNESCO MIRCEN: Industrial Biotchnology, Department of Microbial, Biochemical and Food Biotechnology, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa.
authors.forename: Desmond M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Ncango
authors.forename: Carolina H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Pohl
authors.forename: Olihile M
authors.initials: OM
authors.lastname: Sebolai
authors.forename: Piet J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Botes
authors.forename: Catharina J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Strauss
authors.forename: Manjusha
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Joseph
authors.forename: Pieter W J
authors.initials: PW
authors.lastname: Van Wyk
authors.forename: Santosh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nigam
authors.forename: Johan L F
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Kock
mesh_terms: D002473:Cell Wall / Q000737:chemistry*; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D008055:Lipids / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D004718:Saccharomycetales / Q000737:chemistry / Q000166:cytology*; D013172:Spores, Fungal / Q000737:chemistry / Q000166:cytology*
chemical_list: D008055:Lipids