Cell wall characteristics during sexual reproduction of Mougeotia sp. (Zygnematophyceae) revealed by electron microscopy, glycan microarrays and RAMAN spectroscopy

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  • Charlotte Permann
  • Klaus Herburger
  • Martin Niedermeier
  • Martin Felhofer
  • Notburga Gierlinger
  • Andreas Holzinger

Mougeotia spp. collected from field samples were investigated for their conjugation morphology by light-, fluorescence-, scanning- and transmission electron microscopy. During a scalarifom conjugation, the extragametangial zygospores were initially surrounded by a thin cell wall that developed into a multi-layered zygospore wall. Maturing zygospores turned dark brown and were filled with storage compounds such as lipids and starch. While M. parvula had a smooth surface, M. disjuncta had a punctated surface structure and a prominent suture. The zygospore wall consisted of a polysaccharide rich endospore, followed by a thin layer with a lipid-like appaerance, a massive electron dense mesospore and a very thin exospore composed of polysaccharides. Glycan microarray analysis of zygospores of different developmental stages revealed the occurrence of pectins and hemicelluloses, mostly composed of homogalacturonan (HG), xyloglucans, xylans, arabino-galactan proteins and extensins. In situ localization by the probe OG7-13(AF 488) labelled HG in young zygospore walls, vegetative filaments and most prominently in conjugation tubes and cross walls. Raman imaging showed the distribution of proteins, lipids, carbohydrates and aromatic components of the mature zygospore with a spatial resolution of similar to 250 nm. The carbohydrate nature of the endo- and exospore was confirmed and in-between an enrichment of lipids and aromatic components, probably algaenan or a sporopollenin-like material. Taken together, these results indicate that during zygospore formation, reorganizations of the cell walls occured, leading to a resistant and protective structure.

Original languageEnglish
JournalProtoplasma
Volume258
Pages (from-to)1261-1275
Number of pages15
ISSN0033-183X
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2021

    Research areas

  • Cell wall, Conjugation, Mougeotia, Sexual reproduction, Streptophyte, Zygospore, GREEN-ALGAE, LECTINS ZYGNEMATACEAE, CHLOROPLAST MOVEMENT, EXTRACELLULAR-MATRIX, CONJUGATION PROCESS, LAND-PLANTS, SPIROGYRA, CHAROPHYTA, INSIGHTS, RELEASE

ID: 270548686