Isolation and Quantification of Plant Extracellular Vesicles

Brian D Rutter; Katie L Rutter; Roger W Innes

doi:10.21769/BioProtoc.2533

Isolation and Quantification of Plant Extracellular Vesicles

Bio Protoc. 2017 Sep 5;7(17):e2533. doi: 10.21769/BioProtoc.2533.

Authors

Brian D Rutter¹, Katie L Rutter¹, Roger W Innes¹

Affiliation

¹ Department of Biology, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA.

Abstract

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) play an important role in intercellular communication by transporting proteins and RNA. While plant cells secrete EVs, they have only recently been isolated and questions regarding their biogenesis, release, uptake and function remain unanswered. Here, we present a detailed protocol for isolating EVs from the apoplastic wash of Arabidopsis thaliana leaves. The isolated EVs can be quantified using a fluorometric dye to assess total membrane content.

Keywords: DiOC6; Apoplastic wash; Arabidopsis thaliana; EVs; Extracellular vesicles; Fluorometric quantification.