title: Quantification of (1→4)-β-d-Galactans in Compression Wood Using an Immuno-Dot Assay.
abstract: Compression wood is a type of reaction wood formed on the underside of softwood stems when they are tilted from the vertical and on the underside of branches. Its quantification is still a matter of some scientific debate. We developed a new technique that has the potential to do this based on the higher proportions of (1→4)-β-d-galactans that occur in tracheid cell walls of compression wood. Wood was milled, partially delignified, and the non-cellulosic polysaccharides, including the (1→4)-β-d-galactans, extracted with 6 M sodium hydroxide. After neutralizing, the solution was serially diluted, and the (1→4)-β-d-galactans determined by an immuno-dot assay using the monoclonal antibody LM5, which specifically recognizes this polysaccharide. Spots were quantified using a dilution series of a commercially available (1→4)-β-d-galactan from lupin seeds. Using this method, compression and opposite woods from radiata pine (Pinus radiata) were easily distinguished based on the amounts of (1→4)-β-d-galactans extracted. The non-cellulosic polysaccharides in the milled wood samples were also hydrolysed using 2 M trifluoroacetic acid followed by the separation and quantification of the released neutral monosaccharides by high performance anion exchange chromatography. This confirmed that the compression woods contained higher proportions of galactose-containing polysaccharides than the opposite woods.
authors.affiliation: School of Biological Sciences, The University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland 1142, New Zealand. r.chavan@auckland.ac.nz.
authors.forename: Ramesh R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Chavan
authors.affiliation: School of Biological Sciences, The University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland 1142, New Zealand. lfah338@aucklanduni.ac.nz.
authors.forename: Leona M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Fahey
authors.affiliation: School of Biological Sciences, The University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland 1142, New Zealand. p.harris@auckland.ac.nz.
authors.forename: Philip J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Harris
keywords: (1→4)-β-d-galactans; LM5 monoclonal antibody; Pinus radiata; compression wood; coniferous gymnosperms; delignification; immuno-dot assay; monosaccharide composition