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Published on: November 9, 2013
Hourglass cell development in the soybean seed coat.
S S Miller1, Z Jin, J A Schnell
1Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Eastern Cereal and Oilseeds Research Centre, Ottawa, ON, Canada. shea.miller@agr.gc.ca
Annals of Botany
|May 28, 2010
Summary
Soybean hourglass cells (HGCs) rapidly change structure between 12-18 days post-anthesis, developing characteristic features and accumulating soybean peroxidase (SBP) protein before organelle degradation. This reveals HGC development and SBP protein localization.
Area of Science:
- Plant biology
- Cell biology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Hourglass cells (HGCs) in soybean seed coats are potential "phytofactories" for protein production.
- HGC differentiation begins around 9 days post-anthesis (dpa), with mature morphology by 18 dpa.
Purpose of the Study:
- Document structural changes in HGCs during differentiation (9-18 dpa).
- Correlate these changes with the development of soybean peroxidase (SBP) protein, encoded by the Ep gene.
Main Methods:
- Soybean pods collected at various growth stages.
- Analysis of Ep peroxidase activity, scanning and transmission electron microscopy, and western blotting.
- Utilized a null variety lacking Ep peroxidase expression as a control.
Main Results:
- HGCs transition from undifferentiated cells to mature structures with thick walls, air spaces, and vacuoles by 18 dpa.
- Organelles within HGCs degrade by 45 dpa.
- SBP activity and protein are detected in HGCs prior to full differentiation, with early activity localized in vacuoles.
Conclusions:
- The study details the dynamic structural development of HGCs and their relationship with SBP accumulation.
- Findings enhance understanding of HGC development and protein targeting within endomembrane systems.
- This research provides a foundation for future "phytofactory" applications using HGCs.
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