Sporopollenin: The Ground Discussion

Abstract

Sporopollenin is an ubiquitous and extremely chemically inert biopolymer. The surface of sporopollenin is richly sculptured, ornamented and porous and is species specific. It is stable in organic and aqueous solvents. It is insoluble in common acids and in most organic solvents. Sporopollenins have very similar chemical structures and to be identical in structure to the synthetic carotenoid polymes. The sporopollenins derived from angiosperms, gymnosperms and ferns and lower plant spores have similar chemical structures and also they are similar to synthetic polymers. Sporopollenins are strongly osmophilic. Sporopollenins react with basic dyes suggesting the presence of weakly amnionic groups such as acidic-enolic compounds. Sporopollenin can be isolated from spores or pollen grain by treating with solvents or enzymes that remove intine and cytoplasm. Purified sporopollenin retains the similar shape, size, and surface features as in its spore or pollen grain and remains an empty shell i.e sporopollenin microcapsules. The different methods developed to isolate sporopollenin from L. clavatum proved its exceptional stability and chemical inertness. Wiermann et al has proved that, the sporopollein survived a wide range of enzymes. This may explain why it does not easily submit to bacterial decomposition or digestion. Its principle function is to protect against oxidation and desiccation. The study led by Maak proved that sporopollenin by Chlorella vulgaris was harmless and could be rubbed on skin with no irritation, swallowed without any danger or even injected in blood stream. The sporopollenin particles were found to cause an antigenic reation and bind to antibodies. The sporopollenin remains unchanged when heated up to 3000C or treated with concentrated acids and bases. Sporopollenin appears to undergo carbonization and coalification with haet. The sporopollenin decomposes by chemolyses and ozonolysis. An unknown enzymatic sequence linked to the clotting cascade has also been discovered that degrades sporopollenin in the blood, both in vitro and in vivo.