Abstract text: The emergent mechanical and physicochemical properties of plant cell wall are governed by the molecular architecture and interactions of its constituent polymers. Major challenges in plant cell wall research are the determination of the nano to mesoscale organisation of cell wall polysaccharides and their structure function-relationship (Boerjan et al 2024).

Pectins, given their structural complexity, are particularly challenging to study. Chemical analysis has identified blocks of HG, RGI and RGII. Uncertainties remain however on the spatial organisation of these blocks within the polymer and their possible covalent or non-covalent linkages with other cell wall polymers including proteoglycans.

Here, we employ direct Stochastic Optical Reconstruction Microscopy (dSTORM) to resolve the spatial organization of plant cell wall polysaccharides with nanometer precision. By targeting specific epitopes, we visualize intra- and intermolecular arrangements of isolated pectic polymers. Such high-resolution imaging reveals distinct distribution and colocalization patterns of different pectin domains. These findings are complemented by atomic force microscopy (AFM), providing correlative insights into polymer topography and assembly.

Boerjan et al 2024 The Cell Surface 11 DOI:10.1016/j.tcsw.2024.100121