Determination of Pollen Tube Extension
It is reported that pollen tubes can be used for chemical genetic screening. CD BioSciences is committed to developing simple and rapid strategies that can be used to help customers quantify pollen tube extension, offering the possibility of performing comparative chemical screens. We are looking forward to being your partner and providing you with unparalleled support services for pollen tube extension studies.
Background
Experiments have shown that pollen tubes extend rapidly when pollen grains are incubated in a specific medium. As a single cell that extends rapidly in a simple defined medium, the pollen tube is becoming an attractive system for plant chemical genetics. Pollen grains are easily and non-invasively collected from plants in contrast to other plant cells. Most importantly, the rapid extension of pollen tubes relies on many key functions of plant cells, including molecular signaling, vesicle transport, cytoskeletal remodeling, secretion and cell wall synthesis.
Given the growth behavior and biophysical properties of pollen tubes, measurement of pollen tube growth has emerged as a promising method for preliminary screening of chemical libraries to identify compounds that affect key plant cell processes. The length of pollen tubes is usually determined using microscopy, however, this method can only measure individual pollen tubes and is time-consuming. Currently, multiple alternative methods for indirectly quantifying tube lengths have emerged for screening large chemical libraries.
Our Services
We developed different strategies to detect pollen tube extension and explore the potential of pollen tubes for chemical screening. Our services include, but are not limited to:
- We set up a semi-quantitative pollen tube extension test using Congo red, a polysaccharide-binding dye that binds to pollen. The method was carried out in the form of a microtitre plate. We quantify pollen tube germination and length using fluorescence microscopy and specialized analysis software to provide our clients with semi-quantitative readings relative to pollen tube extension. The changes in fluorescence levels allow us to screen for compounds that have an effect on pollen tube extension.
- We first use automated confocal microscopy to determine if small molecules inhibit pollen germination, a primary screening step that identifies the active lead compound. We then use a highly specialized automated confocal imaging system to perform a secondary screen to identify bioactive molecules.
Applications
- Chemical genetic screens
- Study on plant biological pathway
- Study on the molecular mechanism of plant physiological process
- Development of inhibitors that can be used to identify critical molecular targets
Our Advantages
- The most advanced technology platforms
- Rapid, inexpensive and simple methods
- Powerful data resources
- Customized one-stop service
CD BioSciences offers systematic and holistic solutions for the measurement of the pollen tube extension. We have experts with many years of experience in the field to tailor the optimal experimental protocol for you. Our broad perspective can provide you with the most professional and efficient assistance for your research project. If you are interested in our services, please feel free to contact us.
Reference
- Hartman, E.; et al. A rapid, inexpensive, and semi-quantitative method for determining pollen tube extension using fluorescence. Plant Methods. 2014, 10(1): 1-6.
For research use only, not
intended for any clinical use.
Related Services
