Evaluation of effectiveness of the methods for isolation of cell wall polysaccharides during cell elongation in Phaseolus vulgaris seedlings

Phaseolus vulgaris seedlings were grown in light with or without chromium. Changes in cell wall components i.e. pectic polysaccharides and xyloglucan contents were looked into during cell elongation, by two different methods in order to find the most suitable method for isolation of cell wall polysaccharides. The first method was short and easy. It made use of organic solvents for preparation of cell wall components and ammonium oxalate and oxalic acid buffer and high temperature for extracting pectic polysaccharides; 0.7 M and 4.3 M KOH was used for extracting low and high molecular weight xyloglucans respectively. On the other hand, in the second method, cell wall components were fractionated by sequential treatments with different inorganic solvents, chelating agents, sodium lauryl sulphate, etc. KOH (1 M and 4 M) was used for extracting xyloglucans. The advantage of using the second method for extracting cell wall polysaccharides especially pectic polysaccharides is discussed.