Sporopollenin

• Sporopollenins are probably the most resistant organic materials of direct biological origin found in nature and in geological samples. They are the chemical component that make up the outer wall of pollen grains, spores and many related microorganisms.

• Sporopollenin is  one  of  the  most  chemically  inert biological polymers.It is a major component of the tough outer  (exine) walls of plant  spores and pollen grains.  It  is chemically  very  stable  and  is  usually  well  preserved  in soils and sediments.  The  exine  layer  is  often  intricately sculptured  in  species-specific  patterns  (see  image  at right),  allowing  material  recovered  from  (for  example) lake  sediments  to  provide  useful  information to palynologists about plant and fungal populations in the past.  Sporopollenin  has  found  uses  in  the  field of paleoclimatology as well. 

Etymologia

• John (1814) and Braconnot (1829). • Zetzsche (1928) introduced the term

sporonin to describe the wall material from spores of Lycopodium clavatum and used the collective name sporopollenin to describe the chemical substance present in both pollen and spore walls.

• The chemical composition of sporopollenin  is not exactly known, due to  its unusual  chemical  stability  and  resistance  to  degradation  by enzymes and strong chemical reagents. Analyses have revealed a mixture of biopolymers, containing mainly  long  chain fatty  acids,  phenyl  propanoids,  phenolics and traces of carotenoids. Tracer experiments have shown that phenyl lanine is a major  precursor,  but  other  carbon  sources  also  contribute.  It  is  likely  that sporopollenin  derives  from  several  precursors  that  are  chemically  cross-linked to form a rigid structure.-*

 electron microscopy shows that the tapetal cells that surround the developing pollen  grain  in  the anther have  a  highly  active secretory system  containing lipophilic  globules.  These  globules  are  believed  to  contain  sporopollenin precursors. Chemical inhibitors of pollen development and many male sterile mutants have effects on the secretion of these globules by the tapetal cells.

• Uses of sporopollenin

1. In health careone  of  its  most profound attributes is  that  it  is  known to  have  a  fantastic ability  to  act  like  a sponge  around substances  such  as pesticides,  toxins, chemicals and toxic metals,  soaking them  up  and binding  them together.

Benefits of detox foot pads• Contains high quality, pure bamboo vinegar extract to

ignite the removal of toxins.• Supports a healthy immune system.• Boosts vitality and energy.• Promotes healthy circulation.• Encourages a positive mental state.• Safe, effective, and easy to use. Disposable, no mess!

How do Detox Foot Pads work Detox Foot Pads work on the same osmotic

principle used by the plant kingdom. Tree roots transport water up to branches through semi-permeable membranes. Similarly, detox foot pads cause the skin to perspire and then draw circulating toxins from the bottom of the feet.

The new carbon-titanium adhesives are designed to increase the flow of bio-electricity and blood circulation around the pad to boost its effectiveness. The foot is where most of the nerves in the body end, making it the ideal location to clean out toxins, chemicals, and toxic metals which can be expelled through the sweat.

2. To deliver drugs• Pollen capsules that can be filled with nanomaterials could be used for 

drug delivery, say scientists. Some plant pollens can cross the gut wall where they are destroyed within the blood stream, releasing their contents.  This has led researchers to investigate pollen as possible drug delivery vehicles.  

• Vesselin Paunov at University of Hull, UK, and colleagues have developed a way of filling pollen capsules with nanomaterials.  Paunov says the method will allow sporopollenin, the material that makes up the outer layer of pollen, to be used in pharmaceutical and cosmetic formulations. The researchers used the sporopollenin capsules as chemical micro-reactors, adding starting materials and then allowing a chemical reaction to generate the product inside the pollen.  Paunov's team used this method to fill pollen capsules with organic, inorganic and magnetic nanoparticles.  

Sporopollenin microcapsules from Lycopodium clavatum loaded with a range of inorganic and

organic nanomaterials

3. Palynology

• Palynology  is  the study of plant pollen, spores and certain microscopic plankton organisms (collectively termed  palynomorphs)  in  both  living  and  fossil form.  Botanists  use  living  pollen  and  spores (actuopalynology)  in  the  study  of  plant relationships  and  evolution,  while  geologists (palynologists)  may  use  fossil  pollen  and  spores (paleopalynology)  to  study  past  environments, stratigraphy  (the analysis of  strata or  layered  rock) historical geology and paleontology.

Cross-section of the cell wall (structure) of a pollen grain and a spore.

The structure of both Pteridophyte and Bryophyte spores is very similar  to  pollen.  They  also  possess  a  sporopollenin  cell  wall consisting of  several  layers.  The  inner  layers are  the endospore and  exospore,  the  outer  layer,  which  often  "peels  off"  is  the perispore.

Pollen exine assembles into elaborate species-specific patterns.Pollen grains of six plant species are shown.