title: Solid-State (13)C NMR Delineates the Architectural Design of Biopolymers in Native and Genetically Altered Tomato Fruit Cuticles.
abstract: Plant cuticles on outer fruit and leaf surfaces are natural macromolecular composites of waxes and polyesters that ensure mechanical integrity and mitigate environmental challenges. They also provide renewable raw materials for cosmetics, packaging, and coatings. To delineate the structural framework and flexibility underlying the versatile functions of cutin biopolymers associated with polysaccharide-rich cell-wall matrices, solid-state NMR spectra and spin relaxation times were measured in a tomato fruit model system, including different developmental stages and surface phenotypes. The hydrophilic-hydrophobic balance of the cutin ensures compatibility with the underlying polysaccharide cell walls; the hydroxy fatty acid structures of outer epidermal cutin also support deposition of hydrophobic waxes and aromatic moieties while promoting the formation of cell-wall cross-links that rigidify and strengthen the cuticle composite during fruit development. Fruit cutin-deficient tomato mutants with compromised microbial resistance exhibit less efficient local and collective biopolymer motions, stiffening their cuticular surfaces and increasing their susceptibility to fracture.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The City College of New York, City University of New York Graduate Center Ph.D. Programs in Biochemistry and Chemistry and CUNY Institute for Macromolecular Assemblies , New York, New York 10031, United States.
authors.forename: Subhasish
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chatterjee
authors.affiliation: Plant Biology Section, School of Integrative Plant Science, Cornell University , Ithaca, New York 14853, United States.
authors.forename: Antonio J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Matas
authors.affiliation: Plant Biology Section, School of Integrative Plant Science, Cornell University , Ithaca, New York 14853, United States.
authors.forename: Tal
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Isaacson
authors.affiliation: Department of Mathematics and Science, Pratt Institute , Brooklyn, New York 11205, United States.
authors.forename: Cindie
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kehlet
authors.affiliation: Plant Biology Section, School of Integrative Plant Science, Cornell University , Ithaca, New York 14853, United States.
authors.forename: Jocelyn K C
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Rose
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The City College of New York, City University of New York Graduate Center Ph.D. Programs in Biochemistry and Chemistry and CUNY Institute for Macromolecular Assemblies , New York, New York 10031, United States.
authors.forename: Ruth E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Stark
mesh_terms: D001704:Biopolymers / Q000378:metabolism*; D002473:Cell Wall / Q000378:metabolism; D005638:Fruit / Q000378:metabolism*; D057927:Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions; D018551:Solanum lycopersicum / Q000235:genetics*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008563:Membrane Lipids / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D019906:Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, Biomolecular; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000378:metabolism*; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified / Q000235:genetics*; D011134:Polysaccharides / Q000378:metabolism; D014885:Waxes / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D001704:Biopolymers; D008563:Membrane Lipids; D010940:Plant Proteins; D011134:Polysaccharides; D014885:Waxes; C000521:cutin