What is the Difference Between Sporopollenin and Cuticle

Thekey difference between sporopollenin and cuticleis that sporopollenin is a lipid and phenolic based polymer present in the tough outer walls of plant spores andpollen grainsof land plants, while cuticle is a continuous亲脂性聚合物that is coating the aerial surfaces of land plants.

植物具有三个主要的细胞外疏水屏障。它们是角质层，孢子囊素和suberin。这些细胞外屏障通常由脂质组成。这些层的主要功能是保护植物免受各种环境应力，例如盐度，缺水，病原体攻击和受伤。

内容

1.Overview and Key Difference
2.What is Sporopollenin
3.What is Cuticle
4.Similarities – Sporopollenin and Cuticle
5.Sporopollenin vs Cuticle in Tabular Form
6。概括

什么是孢子囊？

Sporopollenin is a lipid and phenolic based polymer present in the tough outer walls of plant spores and pollen grains of land plants. It is one of the most chemically inert biological polymers. It is also chemically well stable. It is well preserved in soils and sediments. Sometimes, sporopollenin is also found in the cell walls of green alga. Normally, spores are dispersed in different ways, such as wind, water, and animals. If the conditions are suitable, the walls of pollen grains and spores that impregnate sporopollenin can persist in the fossils for more than a hundred million years. This is because sporopollenin is resistant to chemical degradation by organic and inorganic chemicals.

Analytical techniques have revealed that sporopollenin is a complex biopolymer. It typically contains long-chain fatty acids, phenylpropanoids, phenolics and traces of carotenoids within a random copolymer. It believes sporopollenin drives from several precursors that are cross-linked to produce a rigid structure. Furthermore, tapetal cells are involved in the biosynthesis of sporopollenin. These cells have a secretory system containing lipophilic globules. Moreover, the main function of sporopollenin is to protect pollen grains from external damages such as rain and high temperature.

What is Cuticle?

A cuticle is a continuous lipophilic layer that is coating the aerial surfaces of land plants. The plant cuticle is a protective covering. It covers the epidermis of leaves, young shoots, and other aerial plant organs without periderm. Plant cuticle consists of lipids and hydrocarbon polymers impregnated with wax. The cuticle is chemically made up of waxes embedded within and overlaying a matrix of cutin. Waxes are mainly derivatives of long-chain fatty acids (C20-C34), which include aldehydes, alkanes, primary alcohol, secondary alcohol, ketones, and esters. Cutin is an esterified polymer of C16 and C18 omega and mid-chain hydroxy fatty acid that is esterified to glycerol skeleton.

通常是从表皮细胞合成的。表皮通常存在于所有血管陆地植物的主要器官的外表面上。但是有时候，它也存在于孢子质的霍恩沃（Hornworts）以及孢子体的苔藓世代中。可以通过用果胶酶和纤维酶等酶处理植物组织来分离角质层。

孢子囊和角质层之间有什么相似之处？

• Sporopollenin and cuticle are two major extracellular hydrophobic barriers in the land plants.
• Both are complex biopolymers.
• These layers contain lipids.
• 这些层保护植物免受各种环境压力，例如盐度，缺水，病原体攻击和受伤。

孢子囊和角质层有什么区别？

Sporopollenin is a lipid and phenolic based polymer present in the tough outer walls of plant spores and pollen grains of land plants, while the cuticle is a continuous lipophilic polymer that is coating the aerial surfaces of land plants. So, this is the key difference between sporopollenin and cuticle. Furthermore, sporopollenin typically contains long-chain fatty acids, phenylpropanoids, phenolics, and traces of carotenoids within a random copolymer. Meanwhile, a cuticle typically consists of waxes embedded within and overlaying a matrix of cutin esterified polymer.

以下信息图列出了孢子囊素和表皮以表格形式进行比较的差异。

摘要 - 孢子囊与角质层

Plants have three major extracellular hydrophobic barriers or layers such as cuticle, sporopollenin, and suberin for protection. Sporopollenin is a lipid and phenolic based polymer present in the tough outer walls of plant spores and pollen grains of land plants, while the cuticle is a continuous lipophilic polymer that is coating the aerial surfaces of land plants. Thus, this is the summary of the difference between sporopollenin and cuticle.

Reference:

1.“”Sporopollenin: Distribution, Production and Functions。” Biology Discussion.
2. “植物角质层。” An Overview | ScienceDirect Topics.

Image Courtesy:

1.“”MISC花粉” By Dartmouth College Electron Microscope Facility – Dartmouth College Electron Microscope Facility (Public Domain) via Commons Wikimedia
2. “Leaf Tissue Structure” Zephyris - 自己的工作(CC BY-SA 3.0)通过Commons Wikimedia