Uptake of fluorescent-labeled BSA into root cells: endocytosis?

Abstract

Incorporation of rhodamine- and fluorescein-isothiocyanate labeled bovine serum albumin (BSA-TRITC, BSA-FITC) was examined in different root zones of the 3-day-old seedlings in Melandrium noctiflorum, Allium cepa and Zea mays. The uptake of fluorescent-labeled BSA was found: (1) species-specific, (2) cell-type dependent, and (3) cytochalasin B-sensitive. The characteristic punctute distribution of vesicles within the cytoplasm suggests the internalization of labeled proteins by endocytosis.

Keywords

• endocytosis
• Melandrium noctiflorum L.
• Allium cepa L.
• Zea mays L.
• BSA
• fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)
• tetramethylrhodamine isothiocyanate (TRITC)
• cytochalasin B