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Live Imaging of Arabidopsis Pollen Tube Reception and Double Fertilization Using the Semi-In Vitro Cum Septum Method
Published on: February 24, 2023
In situ assessment of mitochondrial calcium transport in tobacco pollen tubes
Cesar Flores-Herrera1, Gisela Preciado-Linares1, Israel Gonzalez-Vizueth1
1Departamento de Bioquímica, Facultad de Química, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad Universitaria, 04510, México City, Mexico.
Abstract:
Pollen tubes require functional mitochondria in order to achieve fast and sustained growth. In addition, cell wall expansion requires a calcium gradient in the tube apex formed by a dedicated array of calcium pumps and channels. Most studies have traditionally focused on the molecular aspects of calcium interactions and transport across the pollen tube plasmalemma. However, calcium transients across mitochondrial membranes from pollen tubes are beginning to be studied. Here, we report the presence of a ruthenium red-sensitive mitochondrial calcium uniporter-like activity in tobacco pollen tubes with functional oxidative phosphorylation. The present study provides a framework to measure in situ specifics of mitochondrial transport and respiration in pollen tubes from different plants. The relevance of a mitochondrial calcium uniporter for pollen tube growth is discussed.
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