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Title: Effects of freezing and cold acclimation on the plasma membrane of isolated protoplasts. Progress report, May 16, 1992--January 9, 1993

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/10148698· OSTI ID:10148698

Our goal is to provide a mechanistic understanding of the cellular and molecular aspects of freezing injury and cold acclimation from a perspective of the structural and functional integrity of the plasma membrane -- the primary site of freezing injury in winter cereals. We have utilized protoplasts isolated from leaves of winter rye (Secale cereale L. cv Puma) to study the cryobehavior of the plasma membrane during a freeze/thaw cycle. The focus of our current studies is on lesions in the plasma membrane that result from severe freeze-induced dehydration and result in the alteration of the semipermeable characteristics of the plasma membrane so that the protoplasts are osmotically unresponsive. In protoplasts isolated from non-acclimated rye leaves (NA protoplasts), injury is associated with the formation of aparticulate domains in the plasma membrane, aparticulate lamellae subtending the plasma membrane, and lamellar-to-hexagonal II phase transitions in the plasma membrane and the subtending lamellae. However, lamellar-to-hexagonal II phase transitions are not observed following severe dehydration of protoplasts isolated from cold-acclimated rye leaves (ACC protoplasts). Rather, injury is associated with the ``fracture-jump lesion,`` which, in freeze-fracture electron microscopy studies, is manifested as localized deviations in the fracture face of the plasma membrane. The fracture plane ``jumps`` from the plasma membrane to either subtending aparticulate lamellae or aparticulate regions of various endomembranes (predominantly chloroplast envelopes) that are in close apposition with the plasma membrane.

Research Organization:
Cornell Univ., Ithaca, NY (United States). Dept. of Soil, Crop and Atmospheric Sciences
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
DOE Contract Number:
FG02-84ER13214
OSTI ID:
10148698
Report Number(s):
DOE/ER/13214-10; ON: DE93013329
Resource Relation:
Other Information: PBD: [1993]
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English