Wall-bound proteins of pollen tubes after self- and cross-pollination in Lilium longiflorum

Abstract

Wall-bound proteins of Lilium longiflorum pollen tubes grown in vivo constitute 20-27% of the dry matter. Twenty-two-twenty-six percent of these proteins are NaCl soluble. Wall-bound proteins of in vivo pollen tubes are present in amounts 5-7 times that found in tubes grown in vitro. The protein pattern of wall-bound proteins is different between in vitro and in vivo grown pollen tubes. There are two kinds of pollen tube wall proteins: loosely bound and tightly bound. The latter are NaCl insoluble, contain hydroxyproline and are assumed to be covalently bound. No significant differences have been found in the amount of wall-bound proteins present between pollen tubes resulting after self-pollination and those resulting from cross-pollination. However, some band differences between self- and cross pollen tubes have been observed after gel electrophoresis. It can be supposed that some wall-bound proteins of pollen tubes are associated with the incompatibility reaction.