New insight into the structures and formation of anthocyanic vacuolar inclusions in flower petals

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Although the biosynthetic pathways for anthocyanins and their regulation have been well studied, the mechanism of anthocyanin accumulation in the cell is still poorly understood. Different models have been proposed to explain the tra...

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Main Authors: Bennett Raymond, Deroles Simon, Wang Lei, Zhang Huaibi, Davies Kevin
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2006-12-01
Series:BMC Plant Biology
Online Access:http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2229/6/29
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author Bennett Raymond
Deroles Simon
Wang Lei
Zhang Huaibi
Davies Kevin
author_facet Bennett Raymond
Deroles Simon
Wang Lei
Zhang Huaibi
Davies Kevin
author_sort Bennett Raymond
collection DOAJ
description <p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Although the biosynthetic pathways for anthocyanins and their regulation have been well studied, the mechanism of anthocyanin accumulation in the cell is still poorly understood. Different models have been proposed to explain the transport of anthocyanins from biosynthetic sites to the central vacuole, but cellular and subcellular information is still lacking for reconciliation of different lines of evidence in various anthocyanin sequestration studies. Here, we used light and electron microscopy to investigate the structures and the formation of anthocyanic vacuolar inclusions (AVIs) in lisianthus (<it>Eustoma grandiflorum</it>) petals.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>AVIs in the epidermal cells of different regions of the petal were investigated. Three different forms of AVIs were observed: vesicle-like, rod-like and irregular shaped. In all cases, EM examinations showed no membrane encompassing the AVI. Instead, the AVI itself consisted of membranous and thread structures throughout. Light and EM microscopy analyses demonstrated that anthocyanins accumulated as vesicle-like bodies in the cytoplasm, which themselves were contained in prevacuolar compartments (PVCs). The vesicle-like bodies seemed to be transported into the central vacuole through the merging of the PVCs and the central vacuole in the epidermal cells. These anthocyanin-containing vesicle-like bodies were subsequently ruptured to form threads in the vacuole. The ultimate irregular AVIs in the cells possessed a very condensed inner and relatively loose outer structure.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Our results strongly suggest the existence of mass transport for anthocyanins from biosynthetic sites in the cytoplasm to the central vacuole. Anthocyanin-containing PVCs are important intracellular vesicles during the anthocyanin sequestration to the central vacuole and these specific PVCs are likely derived directly from endoplasmic reticulum (ER) in a similar manner to the transport vesicles of vacuolar storage proteins. The membrane-like and thread structures of AVIs point to the involvement of intravacuolar membranes and/or anthocyanin intermolecular association in the central vacuole.</p>
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spelling doaj.art-903d21464fe94ed39de061cb8cd0f1742022-12-22T02:58:26ZengBMCBMC Plant Biology1471-22292006-12-01612910.1186/1471-2229-6-29New insight into the structures and formation of anthocyanic vacuolar inclusions in flower petalsBennett RaymondDeroles SimonWang LeiZhang HuaibiDavies Kevin<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Although the biosynthetic pathways for anthocyanins and their regulation have been well studied, the mechanism of anthocyanin accumulation in the cell is still poorly understood. Different models have been proposed to explain the transport of anthocyanins from biosynthetic sites to the central vacuole, but cellular and subcellular information is still lacking for reconciliation of different lines of evidence in various anthocyanin sequestration studies. Here, we used light and electron microscopy to investigate the structures and the formation of anthocyanic vacuolar inclusions (AVIs) in lisianthus (<it>Eustoma grandiflorum</it>) petals.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>AVIs in the epidermal cells of different regions of the petal were investigated. Three different forms of AVIs were observed: vesicle-like, rod-like and irregular shaped. In all cases, EM examinations showed no membrane encompassing the AVI. Instead, the AVI itself consisted of membranous and thread structures throughout. Light and EM microscopy analyses demonstrated that anthocyanins accumulated as vesicle-like bodies in the cytoplasm, which themselves were contained in prevacuolar compartments (PVCs). The vesicle-like bodies seemed to be transported into the central vacuole through the merging of the PVCs and the central vacuole in the epidermal cells. These anthocyanin-containing vesicle-like bodies were subsequently ruptured to form threads in the vacuole. The ultimate irregular AVIs in the cells possessed a very condensed inner and relatively loose outer structure.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Our results strongly suggest the existence of mass transport for anthocyanins from biosynthetic sites in the cytoplasm to the central vacuole. Anthocyanin-containing PVCs are important intracellular vesicles during the anthocyanin sequestration to the central vacuole and these specific PVCs are likely derived directly from endoplasmic reticulum (ER) in a similar manner to the transport vesicles of vacuolar storage proteins. The membrane-like and thread structures of AVIs point to the involvement of intravacuolar membranes and/or anthocyanin intermolecular association in the central vacuole.</p>http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2229/6/29
spellingShingle Bennett Raymond
Deroles Simon
Wang Lei
Zhang Huaibi
Davies Kevin
New insight into the structures and formation of anthocyanic vacuolar inclusions in flower petals
BMC Plant Biology
title New insight into the structures and formation of anthocyanic vacuolar inclusions in flower petals
title_full New insight into the structures and formation of anthocyanic vacuolar inclusions in flower petals
title_fullStr New insight into the structures and formation of anthocyanic vacuolar inclusions in flower petals
title_full_unstemmed New insight into the structures and formation of anthocyanic vacuolar inclusions in flower petals
title_short New insight into the structures and formation of anthocyanic vacuolar inclusions in flower petals
title_sort new insight into the structures and formation of anthocyanic vacuolar inclusions in flower petals
url http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2229/6/29
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AT zhanghuaibi newinsightintothestructuresandformationofanthocyanicvacuolarinclusionsinflowerpetals
AT davieskevin newinsightintothestructuresandformationofanthocyanicvacuolarinclusionsinflowerpetals