Asymmetric water transport in dense leaf cuticles and cuticle-inspired compositionally graded membranes

Aristotelis Kamtsikakis, Johanna Baales, Viktoria V. Zeisler-Diehl, Dimitri Vanhecke, Justin O. Zoppe, Lukas Schreiber () and Christoph Weder ()
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Aristotelis Kamtsikakis: University of Fribourg
Johanna Baales: University of Bonn
Viktoria V. Zeisler-Diehl: University of Bonn
Dimitri Vanhecke: University of Fribourg
Justin O. Zoppe: University of Fribourg
Lukas Schreiber: University of Bonn
Christoph Weder: University of Fribourg

Nature Communications, 2021, vol. 12, issue 1, 1-11

Abstract: Abstract Most of the aerial organs of vascular plants are covered by a protective layer known as the cuticle, the main purpose of which is to limit transpirational water loss. Cuticles consist of an amphiphilic polyester matrix, polar polysaccharides that extend from the underlying epidermal cell wall and become less prominent towards the exterior, and hydrophobic waxes that dominate the surface. Here we report that the polarity gradient caused by this architecture renders the transport of water through astomatous olive and ivy leaf cuticles directional and that the permeation is regulated by the hydration level of the cutin-rich outer cuticular layer. We further report artificial nanocomposite membranes that are inspired by the cuticles’ compositionally graded architecture and consist of hydrophilic cellulose nanocrystals and a hydrophobic polymer. The structure and composition of these cuticle-inspired membranes can easily be varied and this enables a systematic investigation of the water transport mechanism.

Date: 2021
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:nat:natcom:v:12:y:2021:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-021-21500-0

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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-21500-0

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