• ALGAE
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.121-127
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• 2003

The pyrenoid ultrastructure and distribution of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (Rubisco) and Rubisco activase in the chloroplasts of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii was studied using the immunogold localization technology with electron microscopy. There were several tubular thylakoids invading in the pyrenoid matrix to form several spokewise channels. The connections between pyrenoid matrix and stroma of chloroplast were the partial of channels. The starch sheath surrounding the pyrenoid was separated into several parts by the connections in transection. Some thylakoids were packed together near the connections in one side of the pyrenoid. Those special structures might be used to transport substance between pyrenoid and stroma of chloroplasts. With the antibody raised against the large subunits of Rubsico from C. protothecoides, the result of the gold immunolocalization of Rubisco in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii showed most of the gold particles heavily labeled the pyrenoid matrix, as well as the starch sheath matrix, and very few in the stroma of chloroplasts. The gold particle density was 880.00 $\pm$ 164.32, 190.00 $\pm$ 152.39 and 9.60 $\pm$ 5.37 ${\mu}m^{-2}$ in pyrenoid matrix, starch sheath and stroma region of chloroplast respectively (background: 5.67 $\pm$ 1.53 ${\mu}m^{-2}$). 99.59% of the total Rubiscos was calculated to be concentrated in the pyrenoid matrix and starch sheath by spatial densities. The gold immunolocalization of Rubisco activase also showed that Rubisco activase was mainly concentrated in the periphery of the pyrenoid and the starch sheath (the density was as high as 229.69 $\pm$ 96.96 ${\mu}m^{-2}$). There were very few gold particles located in the stroma of chloroplasts. These results indicated that pyrenoid surface and starch sheath was the site for Rubisco activation and $CO_2$ fixation, which supported the suggestion that pyrenoids perform photosynthesis function.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.119-126
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• 2005

${\alpha}$-Expansins are bound to the cell wall of plants and can be solubilized with an extraction buffer containing 1 M NaCl. Localization of ${\alpha}$-expansins in the cell wall was confirmed by immunogold labeling and electron microscopy. The subcellular localization of vegetative ${\beta}$-expansins has not yet been studied. Using antibodies specific for OsEXPB3, a vegetative ${\beta}$-expansin of rice (Oryza sativa L.), we found that OsEXPB3 is tightly bound to the cell wall and, unlike ${\alpha}$-expansins, cannot be solubilized with extraction buffer containing 1 M NaCl. OsEXPB3 protein could only be extracted with buffer containing SDS. The subcellular localization of the OsEXPB3 protein was confirmed by immunogold labeling and electron microscopy. Gold particles were mainly distributed over the primary cell walls. Immunohistochemistry showed that OsEXPB3 is present in all regions of the coleoptile and root tissues tested.