Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK), Corrensstrasse 3, 06466 Seeland-Gatersleben, Germany.
Institute of Experimental Physics 5, University of Würzburg, Am Hubland, 97074 Würzburg, Germany.
Sci Adv. 2024 Sep 20;10(38):eadq4424. doi: 10.1126/sciadv.adq4424. Epub 2024 Sep 18.
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a versatile technique in the biomedical field, but its application to the study of plant metabolism in vivo remains challenging because of magnetic susceptibility problems. In this study, we report the establishment of chemical exchange saturation transfer (CEST) for plant MRI. This method enables noninvasive access to the metabolism of sugars and amino acids in complex sink organs (seeds, fruits, taproots, and tubers) of major crops (maize, barley, pea, potato, sugar beet, and sugarcane). Because of its high signal detection sensitivity and low susceptibility to magnetic field inhomogeneities, CEST analyzes heterogeneous botanical samples inaccessible to conventional magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The approach provides unprecedented insight into the dynamics and distribution of sugars and amino acids in intact, living plant tissue. The method is validated by chemical shift imaging, infrared microscopy, chromatography, and mass spectrometry. CEST is a versatile and promising tool for studying plant metabolism in vivo, with many applications in plant science and crop improvement.
磁共振成像（MRI）是生物医学领域的一种多功能技术，但由于磁化率问题，其在植物代谢活体研究中的应用仍然具有挑战性。在本研究中，我们报告了化学交换饱和转移（CEST）在植物 MRI 中的建立。该方法能够非侵入式地获取主要作物（玉米、大麦、豌豆、土豆、甜菜和甘蔗）复杂的汇器官（种子、果实、块根和块茎）中的糖和氨基酸代谢。由于其具有高信号检测灵敏度和对磁场不均匀性的低敏感性，CEST 分析了传统磁共振光谱无法获取的异质植物样本。该方法为完整、活体植物组织中糖和氨基酸的动态和分布提供了前所未有的见解。该方法通过化学位移成像、红外显微镜、色谱和质谱进行了验证。CEST 是一种用于活体研究植物代谢的多功能且有前途的工具，在植物科学和作物改良中有许多应用。
