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Structural Analysis of Secreted Root Slime from Maize (Zea mays L.)

Plant Cell Biology Research Centre, School of Botany, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia

Secreted slime isolated from the incubation medium of Zea mays roots maintained axenically contains fucose, arabinose, xylose, galactose, and glucose as the major monosaccharides. The slime preparation contains low levels (3% weight/weight [w/w]) of uronic acids. Methylation analysis reveals an extraordinarily diverse range of glycosyl residues. The fucosyl residues are primarily terminal (60%) and 3-linked (33%) with a relatively small proportion being 2-linked (6%). The methylation data are consistent with, but not proof of, the presence of a range of polymers including arabinogalactan-proteins (AGPs), xyloglucans, arabinoxylans, and glucans in the slime. The specific binding of the -glucosyl Yariv reagent, a dye which binds and precipitates AGPs, to the slime preparation and to the outer periclinal epidermal cell wall surface in root sections, is further evidence for the presence of AGPs. Low levels of phenolic acids (approximately 0.17% w/w), in particular trans-ferulic acid, and protein (approximately 6% w/w) were also detected.