Pectin Nanofilaments

© K.T. Haas. 3D dSTORM nanoscopy on methylated (orange, LM20 antibody) and demethylated (blue, 2F4 antibody) pectin homogalacturonan (HG) revealed unexpected feature of the plant cell wall: HG nanofilaments. Visualised regions are the lobed anticlinal walls of Arabidopsis cotyledon pavement cells.

Data was aquired on the Nikon N-STORM system at LMB, Cambridge.

© K.T. Haas. Suprisingly, the partialy methylated (orange, JIM7 antibody) HG present much broader spatial distribution pattern as contrasted to demethylated (blue, 2F4 antibody) pectin HG nanofilaments. This data suggest that the formation of distinct HG quaternary structures may be dictated by specific methylation pattern.

Data was aquired on the Nikon N-STORM system at LMB, Cambridge.

© K.T. Haas. Interestingly, HG nanofilaments are also present in monocotyledons, here maize anticlinal wall of pavement cell stained against demethylated HG (violet, 2F4 antibody).