Background of Microautophagy in Plants Identification
Microautophagy is a type of autophagy. It is characterized by direct uptake of cargo into the vesicle/lysosome through invagination or protrusion of the vesicle/lysosome membrane. The development of new molecular techniques allows the study of this biological phenomenon in a variety of model organisms from yeast to plants and mammals. Plant vesicles can be more than 10 µm in diameter and several publications provide evidence that plants exhibit microautophagy. In plant microautophagy, the target material is directly engulfed by an invagination of the tonoplast. Cargo-containing vesicle pinches off to be released inside the vacuole and degraded within the lumen. Microautophagy was involved in accumulation of storage proteins, lipids, and degradation of starch granules in developing plants. In conclusion, plant autophagy is necessary for maintaining cellular homeostasis under normal conditions and is upregulated during abiotic and biotic stresses to extend cellular lifespan.
Fig. 1. Microautophagy processes in plants. (Sieńko K, et al., 2020)
Services
Interest in the field of microautophagy has grown exponentially due to its role in fundamental biological phenomena in a variety of organisms, including humans and plants. At CD BioSciences, we are committed to providing comprehensive services for the identification of microautophagy in plants to our clients worldwide. Our goal is to help you identify autophagy-associated (ATG) genes in plants and analyze the role of ATG proteins in the autophagic process.
Here, we offer a variety of methods to observe microautophagy in plants.
Electron Microscopy
We offer a transmission electron microscopy (TEM) platform to monitor the structure and progression of microautophagy processes at various stages in plants and to perform detailed morphological analysis of microautophagy in plants.
In addition, our cutting-edge laser scanning microscope (LSM) is capable of capturing live samples to study cellular dynamics. We use green fluorescent protein (GFP) to label proteins on vesicle membranes to visualize vesicle membrane movement during plant microautophagy.
Molecular Labeling
We use proteins involved in the autophagic process or specifically degraded by autophagy (e.g. Atg8/LC3, Atg5 and Atg16, Atg4, Atg18, p62/SQSTM1, etc.) to monitor microautophagic activity in plants. These markers for plant knockouts and transgenes provide useful tools to study microautophagy-related phenotypes under different experimental conditions.
Lysosome/Vesicle Activity Assays
We use Lysotracker staining to monitor autophagy in a variety of organisms, including Arabidopsis, tobacco and barley. In addition, we offer Acridine Orange (AO) and Monodansulfonyl Cadaverine (MDC) to detect microautophagy in plants.
Biochemical Methods
Our techniques allow metabolic labeling of whole plants and plant cell cultures and allow quantification of autophagy by long-lived protein degradation in plants.
Why Choose Us
- A combination of multiple valid and reliable molecular tools.
- Visualization of vesicular plasm helps to better understand the biological phenomena involved in autophagy in plants and their molecular mechanisms and targets.
- Microautophagy in plants can be measured precisely.
- Microautophagy and related structures in plants can be identified.
- Research on plant microautophagy has the potential to uncover improved methods for crop growth.
- Experienced lysosomal autophagy research team.
CD BioSciences can meet any reasonable needs of our clients, taking time and budget into consideration for you. Our aim is to be customer-centric and to provide the highest quality services to customers. Our customer service representatives are enthusiastic and trustworthy 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. If you are interested in our services, please feel free to contact us for more information or a detailed discussion.
Reference
- Sieńko K, et al. (2020) Microautophagy in plants: consideration of its molecular mechanism[J]. Cells. 9(4): 887.