Rhodamine-Tagged Polymethacrylate Dyes as Alternative Tools for Analysis of Plant Cells

Area of Science:

• Polymer Chemistry
• Biotechnology
• Plant Science

Background:

• Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization (ATRP) is a controlled polymerization technique.
• Rhodamine B (RhB) is a fluorescent dye often used in biological imaging.
• Functionalizing polymers with fluorescent tags allows for tracking their behavior in biological systems.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize RhB-functionalized polymers for plant cell visualization.
• To investigate the cellular localization and biocompatibility of these polymers in plant tissues.
• To explore the relationship between polymer properties (hydrophilicity, solvent) and fluorescence.

Main Methods:

• Synthesis of RhB-based ATRP initiator.
• Preparation of poly(2-trimethylammoniumethyl methacrylate) (PChMA), poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (PHEMA), and poly(2-trimethylsilyloxyethyl methacrylate) (PHEMATMS).
• Determination of polymer quantum yield and fluorescence properties.
• Biological testing in plant materials (root tissues, cotyledons) to assess cellular localization and toxicity.

Main Results:

• Successful synthesis of RhB-functionalized polymers with varying fluorescence properties.
• RhB-PChMA localized in cell walls and cytoplasm/organelles of root tissues and epidermis.
• RhB-PHEMA showed broader localization in apoplast, xylem, and cytoplasm/organelles, with no observed cell death.
• RhB-PHEMATMS exhibited weak fluorescence, limiting its biological application.

Conclusions:

• RhB-functionalized polymers, particularly RhB-PChMA and RhB-PHEMA, are suitable for tracking in plant cells.
• The polymers demonstrate specific cellular localization patterns within plant tissues.
• These fluorescent polymers are non-toxic to living plant material, enabling in vivo studies.