Abstract
Hyperhydricity in regenerated pepper plants was monitored by the induction of the ER-luminal resident protein, as observed by immunoblotting. Immunoblotting of total protein using an anti-soybean BiP serum indicated that the induction and accumulation of an 80-kDa protein was related to BiP (Binding protein), a 78-kDa ER-resident molecular chaperone. The anti-BiP serum cross-reacted with an 80-kDa protein which was significantly induced by hyperhydricity. Based on similar molecular weight and immunological reactivity we concluded that the 80-kDa protein induced in hyperhydric plants is a BiP homologue. The ultrastructural organisation of leaves in non-hyperhydric and hyperhydric pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) plants was investigated with the aim of identifying the subcellular changes associated with this phenomenon. In non-hyperhydric leaves the chloroplasts of the palisade cells had normally developed thylakoids and grana and a low accumulation or absence of starch grains and plastoglobules. In the hyperhydric plants, however, the chloroplasts exhibited thylakoid disorganisation, low grana number, an accumulation of large starch grains and a low accumulation or absence of plastoglobules. Although the structure of mitochondria and peroxisomes did not change in hyperhydric plants, the number of peroxisomes did increase.
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Received: 23 July 1998 / Revision received: 26 February 1999 / Accepted: 17 March 1999
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Fontes, M., Otoni, W., Carolino, S. et al. Hyperhydricity in pepper plants regenerated in vitro: involvement of BiP (Binding Protein) and ultrastructural aspects. Plant Cell Reports 19, 81–87 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1007/s002990050714
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s002990050714