Immunocytochemical localization of myrosinase in Brassica napus L.

The cytological and intracellular localization of myrosinase (EC 3.2.3.1) has been studied by immunochemical techniques using paraffin-embedded sections of radicles and cotyledons from seeds of Brassica napus L. cv. Niklas. For immunolabelling, sections were sequentially incubated with a monoclonal anti-myrosinase antibody and with peroxidase-and fluorescein-isothiocyanate-conjugated secondary antibodies. Enzyme and fluorescence label was present in typical myrosin cells both in radicles and in cotyledons. With higher magnification, fluorescence label revealed that the intracellular localization of myrosinase was associated with the tonoplast-like membrane surrounding the myrosin grains in the myrosin cells. The results also indicate that a large proportion of the positive myrosin cells are located in the second-outermost cell layer of the peripheral cortex region of the radicles.