Building and degradation of secondary cell walls: are there common patterns of lamellar assembly of cellulose microfibrils and cell wall delamination?
During cell wall formation and degradation, it is possible to detect cellulose microfibrils assembled into thicker and thinner lamellar structures, respectively, following inverse parallel patterns. The aim of this study was to analyse such patterns of microfibril aggregation and cell wall delamination. The thickness of microfibrils and lamellae was measured on digital images of both growing and degrading cell walls viewed by means of transmission electron microscopy. To objectively detect, measure and classify microfibrils and lamellae into thickness classes, a method based on the application of computerized image analysis combined with graphical and statistical methods was developed. The method allowed common classes of microfibrils and lamellae in cell walls to be identified from different origins. During both the formation and degradation of cell walls, a preferential formation of structures with specific thickness was evidenced. The results obtained with the developed method allowed objective analysis of patterns of microfibril aggregation and evidenced a trend of doubling/halving lamellar structures, during cell wall formation/degradation in materials from different origin and which have undergone different treatments.
Laboratorio di Botanica ed Ecologia Riproduttiva, Dip Arboricoltura, Botanica e Patologia Vegetale, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, via Università 100, 80055 Portici, NA, Italy. demicco@unina.it
Veronica
V
De Micco
Katia
K
Ruel
Jean-Paul
JP
Joseleau
Giovanna
G
Aronne
D000586:Amination; D002473:Cell Wall / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D002482:Cellulose / Q000378:metabolism*; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission
D002482:Cellulose