Plant Biol (Stuttg) 2004; 6(6): 696-701
DOI: 10.1055/s-2004-821271
Original Paper

Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart KG · New York

Nuclei of Tea Flowers As Targets for Flavanols[*]

W. Feucht1 , H. Dithmar2 , J. Polster2
  • 1Department für Pflanzenwissenschaften, Lehrstuhl für Obstbau, Technische Universität München, Wissenschaftszentrum Weihenstephan (WZW), 85350 Freising, Germany
  • 2Department für Biowissenschaftliche Grundlagen, Fachgebiet Physikalische Biochemie (Lehrstuhl für Biologische Chemie), Technische Universität München, Wissenschaftszentrum Weihenstephan (WZW), 85350 Freising, Germany
Further Information

Publication History

Received: November 15, 2003

Accepted: July 30, 2004

Publication Date:
20 October 2004 (online)

Abstract

The tea plant (Camellia sinensis L.) is famous for its flavanol-based constituents being valuable for human health. These flavanols associate with the nuclei of tea flowers, which is demonstrated histochemically by blue colouration using the selective staining reagent p-dimethylaminocinnamaldehyde (DMACA). Sepals, petals, stamens, pollen tubes, ovaries and ovules were studied. All these organs were shown to contain flavanols in vacuolar compartments, in nuclei and, exceptionally, also in the cytoplasm of pollen tubes. In all cells, even in those lacking vacuoles, the nuclei stained blue for flavanols. The extremely divergent development, shape and function of the diverse flower organs did not basically influence the nuclear flavanol association. Nevertheless, within the limits of this study, a few tissue-dependent differences in staining intensity were obvious. Interactions between epicatechin and nuclear histone proteins (histone sulphate) were studied by UV-VIS spectroscopic titration and by means of Mauser diagrams. The results show that the observed association equilibria are strongly dependent on pH (8.0 and 7.4) and on the buffer used (Tris, phosphate).

1 Dedicated to Professor Dr. Hanns-Ludwig Schmidt at the occasion of his 75th birthday.

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1 Dedicated to Professor Dr. Hanns-Ludwig Schmidt at the occasion of his 75th birthday.

W. Feucht

Department für Pflanzenwissenschaften
Lehrstuhl für Obstbau
Technische Universität München
Wissenschaftszentrum Weihenstephan (WZW)

Alte Akademie 16

85350 Freising

Germany

Editor: B. Piechulla