Localization of actin filaments on mitotic apparatus in tobacco BY-2 cells

The OPAQUE1/DISCORDIA2 myosin XI is required for phragmoplast guidance during asymmetric cell division in maize

Formative asymmetric divisions produce cells with different fates and are critical for development. We show the maize (Zea mays) myosin XI protein, OPAQUE1 (O1), is necessary for asymmetric divisions during maize stomatal development. We analyzed stomatal precursor cells before and during asymmetric division to determine why o1 mutants have abnormal division planes. Cell polarization and nuclear positioning occur normally in the o1 mutant, and the future site of division is correctly specified. The defect in o1 becomes apparent during late cytokinesis, when the phragmoplast forms the nascent cell plate. Initial phragmoplast guidance in o1 is normal; however, as phragmoplast expansion continues o1 phragmoplasts become misguided. To understand how O1 contributes to phragmoplast guidance, we identified O1-interacting proteins. Maize kinesins related to the Arabidopsis thaliana division site markers PHRAGMOPLAST ORIENTING KINESINs (POKs), which are also required for correct phragmoplast guidance, physically interact with O1. We propose that different myosins are important at multiple steps of phragmoplast expansion, and the O1 actin motor and POK-like microtubule motors work together to ensure correct late-stage phragmoplast guidance.

Methods to Visualize the Actin Cytoskeleton During Plant Cell Division

Cell division in plants consists of separating the mother cell in two daughter cells by the centrifugal growth of a new wall. This process involves the reorganization of the structural elements of the cell, namely the microtubules and actin cytoskeleton which allow the coordination, the orientation, and the progression of mitosis. In addition to its implication in those plant-specific structures, the actin cytoskeleton, in close association with the plasma membrane, exhibits specific patterning at the cortex of the dividing cells, and might act as a signaling component. This review proposes an overview of the techniques available to visualize the actin cytoskeleton in fixed tissues or living cells during division, including electron, fluorescent, and super-resolution microscopy techniques.

Inhibition of Cycloartenol Synthase (CAS) Function in Tobacco BY-2 Cell Suspensions: A Proteomic Analysis

The effect of an inhibitor of cycloartenol synthase (CAS, EC 5.4.99.8) on the proteome of tobacco BY-2 cells has been examined. CAS catalyzes the first committed step in phytosterol synthesis in plants. BY-2 cells were treated with RO 48-8071, a potent inhibitor of oxidosqualene cyclization. Proteins were separated by two-dimensional electrophoresis and spots, that clearly looked differentially accumulated after visual inspection, were cut, in-gel trypsin digested, and peptides were analyzed by nano-HPLC-MS/MS. Distinct peptides were compared to sequences in the data banks and attributed to corresponding proteins and genes. Inhibition of CAS induced proteins that appear to mitigate the negative effects of the chemical exposure. However, as all enzymes that are directly involved in phytosterol biosynthesis are low-abundant proteins, significant changes in their levels could not be observed. Differences could be seen with enzymes involved in primary metabolism (glycolysis, pentose phosphate pathway etc.), in proteins of the chaperonin family, and those, like actin, that participate in formation and strengthening of the cytoskeleton and have some impact on cell growth and division.

Intracellular reprogramming of expression, glycosylation, and function of a plant-derived antiviral therapeutic monoclonal antibody

Plant genetic engineering, which has led to the production of plant-derived monoclonal antibodies (mAb(P)s), provides a safe and economically effective alternative to conventional antibody expression methods. In this study, the expression levels and biological properties of the anti-rabies virus mAb(P) SO57 with or without an endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-retention peptide signal (Lys-Asp-Glu-Leu; KDEL) in transgenic tobacco plants (Nicotiana tabacum) were analyzed. The expression levels of mAb(P) SO57 with KDEL (mAb(P)K) were significantly higher than those of mAb(P) SO57 without KDEL (mAb(P)) regardless of the transcription level. The Fc domains of both purified mAb(P) and mAb(P)K and hybridoma-derived mAb (mAb(H)) had similar levels of binding activity to the FcγRI receptor (CD64). The mAb(P)K had glycan profiles of both oligomannose (OM) type (91.7%) and Golgi type (8.3%), whereas the mAb(P) had mainly Golgi type glycans (96.8%) similar to those seen with mAb(H). Confocal analysis showed that the mAb(P)K was co-localized to ER-tracker signal and cellular areas surrounding the nucleus indicating accumulation of the mAb(P) with KDEL in the ER. Both mAb(P) and mAb(P)K disappeared with similar trends to mAb(H) in BALB/c mice. In addition, mAb(P)K was as effective as mAb(H) at neutralizing the activity of the rabies virus CVS-11. These results suggest that the ER localization of the recombinant mAb(P) by KDEL reprograms OM glycosylation and enhances the production of the functional antivirus therapeutic antibody in the plant.

The role of actin and myosin in PtK2 spindle length changes induced by laser microbeam irradiations across the spindle

This study investigates spindle biomechanical properties to better understand how spindles function. In this report, laser microbeam cutting across mitotic spindles resulted in movement of spindle poles toward the spindle equator. The pole on the cut side moved first, the other pole moved later, resulting in a shorter but symmetric spindle. Intervening spindle microtubules bent and buckled during the equatorial movement of the poles. Because of this and because there were no detectable microtubules within the ablation zone, other cytoskeletal elements would seem to be involved in the equatorial movement of the poles. One possibility is actin and myosin since pharmacological poisoning of the actin-myosin system altered the equatorial movements of both irradiated and unirradiated poles. Immunofluorescence microscopy confirmed that actin, myosin and monophosphorylated myosin are associated with spindle fibers and showed that some actin and monophosphorylated myosin remained in the irradiated regions. Overall, our experiments suggest that actin, myosin and microtubules interact to control spindle length. We suggest that actin and myosin, possibly in conjunction with the spindle matrix, cause the irradiated pole to move toward the equator and that cross-talk between the two half spindles causes the unirradiated pole to move toward the equator until a balanced length is obtained.

A novel actin-microtubule cross-linking kinesin, NtKCH, functions in cell expansion and division

• Kinesins with a calponin homology domain (KCHs) have been identified recently as a plant-specific subgroup of the kinesin-14 family and are suspected to act as microtubule-actin filament cross-linkers. The cellular function, however, has remained elusive. • In order to address the function of KCHs, we isolated NtKCH, a novel KCH homologue from tobacco BY-2 cells. Following synchronization, NtKCH transcripts were shown to be abundant during mitosis, whereas, during interphase, expression was low. • Using fluorescent-tagged cell lines and immunolabelling techniques, the localization of tobacco KCH was found to differ depending on the cell cycle. During interphase, NtKCH mainly associated with cortical microtubules, whereas a subfraction also co-localized with perinuclear actin cables. In dividing cells, NtKCH accumulated at the pre-prophase band and at the phragmoplast. However, it remained absent from spindle microtubules, but, instead, concentrated at two agglomerations in proximity to the two cell poles. • This work develops a detailed model for the dual localization and function of NtKCH during cell division vs cell expansion. This model implies two dynamic states of KCHs that differ with regard to actin interaction. This allows the modulation of force generation by KCH in a cell cycle-dependent capture mechanism.

And the dead shall rise: actin and myosin return to the spindle

The spindle directs chromosome partitioning in eukaryotes and, for the last three decades, has been considered primarily a structure based on microtubules, microtubule motors, and other microtubule binding proteins. However, a surprisingly large body of both old and new studies suggests roles for actin filaments (F-actin) and myosins (F-actin-based motor proteins) in spindle assembly and function. Here we review these data and conclude that in several cases the evidence for the participation of F-actin and myosins in spindle function is very strong, and in the situations where it is less strong, there is nevertheless enough evidence to warrant further investigation.

The type II Arabidopsis formin14 interacts with microtubules and microfilaments to regulate cell division

Formins have long been known to regulate microfilaments but have also recently been shown to associate with microtubules. In this study, Arabidopsis thaliana FORMIN14 (AFH14), a type II formin, was found to regulate both microtubule and microfilament arrays. AFH14 expressed in BY-2 cells was shown to decorate preprophase bands, spindles, and phragmoplasts and to induce coalignment of microtubules with microfilaments. These effects perturbed the process of cell division. Localization of AFH14 to microtubule-based structures was confirmed in Arabidopsis suspension cells. Knockdown of AFH14 in mitotic cells altered interactions between microtubules and microfilaments, resulting in the formation of an abnormal mitotic apparatus. In Arabidopsis afh14 T-DNA insertion mutants, microtubule arrays displayed abnormalities during the meiosis-associated process of microspore formation, which corresponded to altered phenotypes during tetrad formation. In vitro biochemical experiments showed that AFH14 bound directly to either microtubules or microfilaments and that the FH2 domain was essential for cytoskeleton binding and bundling. However, in the presence of both microtubules and microfilaments, AFH14 promoted interactions between microtubules and microfilaments. These results demonstrate that AFH14 is a unique plant formin that functions as a linking protein between microtubules and microfilaments and thus plays important roles in the process of plant cell division.

Actin cytoskeleton dynamics and the cell division cycle

The network of actin filaments is one of the crucial cytoskeletal structures contributing to the morphological framework of a cell and which participates in the dynamic regulation of cellular functions. In adherent cell types, cells adhere to the substratum during interphase and spread to assume their characteristic shape supported by the actin cytoskeleton. This actin cytoskeleton is reorganized during mitosis to form rounded cells with increased cortical rigidity. The actin cytoskeleton is re-established after mitosis, allowing cells to regain their extended shape and attachment to the substratum. The modulation of such drastic changes in cell shape in coordination with cell cycle progression suggests a tight regulatory interaction between cytoskeleton signalling, cell-cell/cell-matrix adhesions and mitotic events. Here, we review the contribution of the actin cytoskeleton to cell cycle progression with an emphasis on the effectors responsible for the regulation of the actin cytoskeleton and integration of their activities with the cell cycle machinery.

Effects of top excision on the potassium accumulation and expression of potassium channel genes in tobacco

The effects of the removal of the shoot apex of tobacco on the relative transcript levels of potassium channel genes, determined by real-time PCR, and on the relationship between the expression of genes encoding potassium channels and potassium concentration, were studied. The results from the study indicated that comparatively more assimilates of photosynthesis were allocated to the apex in control plants than in both decapitated and IAA-treated decapitated plants. By contrast, dry matter in the upper leaves, roots, and stems in both decapitated and IAA-treated plants was significantly increased relative to control plants. The potassium level in whole plants decreased post-decapitation compared with control plants, and so did the potassium concentration in middle and upper leaves, stem, and roots. Expression of NKT1, NtKC1, NTORK1, and NKT2 was inhibited by decapitation in tobacco leaves with a gradual reduction after decapitation, but was induced in roots. The relative expression of NKT1, NTORK1, and NKT2 in tobacco leaves was higher than that in roots, whereas the expression of NtKC1 was higher in roots. The levels of inhibition and induction of NKT1, NtKC1, NTORK1, and NKT2 in leaves and roots, respectively, associated with decapitation were reduced by the application of IAA on the cut surface of the decapitated stem. Further results showed that the level of endogenous auxin IAA in decapitated plants, which dropped in leaves and increased in roots by 140.7% at 14 d compared with the control plant, might be attributed to the change in the expression of potassium channel genes. The results suggest that there is a reciprocal relationship among endogenous auxin IAA, expression of potassium channel genes and potassium accumulation. They further imply that the endogenous IAA probably plays a role in regulating the expression of potassium channel genes, and that variations in expression of these genes affected the accumulation and distribution of potassium in tobacco.

Cell and Molecular Biology of the Spindle Matrix

The concept of a spindle matrix has long been proposed to account for incompletely understood features of microtubule spindle dynamics and force production during mitosis. In its simplest formulation, the spindle matrix is hypothesized to provide a stationary or elastic molecular matrix that can provide a substrate for motor molecules to interact with during microtubule sliding and which can stabilize the spindle during force production. Although this is an attractive concept with the potential to greatly simplify current models of microtubule spindle behavior, definitive evidence for the molecular nature of a spindle matrix or for its direct role in microtubule spindle function has been lagging. However, as reviewed here multiple studies spanning the evolutionary spectrum from lower eukaryotes to vertebrates have provided new and intriguing evidence that a spindle matrix may be a general feature of mitosis.

Visualization of actin cytoskeletal dynamics during the cell cycle in tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L. cv Bright Yellow) cells

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

The actin cytoskeleton forms distinct actin arrays which fulfil their functions during cell cycle progression. Reorganization of the actin cytoskeleton occurs during transition from one actin array to another. Although actin arrays have been well described during cell cycle progression, the dynamic organization of the actin cytoskeleton during actin array transition remains to be dissected.

RESULTS

In the present study, a GFP (green fluorescent protein)-mTalin (mouse talin) fusion gene was introduced into suspension-cultured tobacco BY-2 (Nicotiana tabacum L. cv Bright Yellow) cells by a calli-cocultivation transformation method to visualize the reorganization of the actin cytoskeleton in vivo during the progression of the cell cycle. Typical actin structures were indicated by GFP-mTalin, such as the pre-prophase actin band, mitotic spindle actin filament cage and phragmoplast actin arrays. In addition, dynamic organization of actin filaments was observed during the progression of the cell from metaphase to anaphase. In late metaphase, spindle actin filaments gradually shrank to the equatorial plane along both the long and short axes. Soon after the separation of sister chromosomes, actin filaments aligned in parallel at the cell division plane, forming a cylinder-like structure. During the formation of the cell plate, one cylinder-like structure changed into two cylinder-like structures: the typical actin arrays of the phragmoplast. However, the two actin arrays remained overlapping at the margin of the centrally growing cell plate, forming an actin wreath. When the cell plate matured further, an actin filament network attached to the cell plate was formed.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results clearly describe the dynamic organization of the actin cytoskeleton during mitosis and cytokinesis of a plant cell. This demonstrates that GFP-mTalin-transformed tobacco BY-2 cells are a valuable tool to study actin cytoskeleton functions in the plant cell cycle.

Organization and function of the actin cytoskeleton in developing root cells

The actin cytoskeleton is a highly dynamic structure, which mediates various cellular functions in large part through accessory proteins that tilt the balance between monomeric G-actin and filamentous actin (F-actin) or by facilitating interactions between actin and the plasma membrane, microtubules, and other organelles. Roots have become an attractive model to study actin in plant development because of their simple anatomy and accessibility of some root cell types such as root hairs for microscopic analyses. Roots also exhibit a remarkable developmental plasticity and possess a delicate sensory system that is easily manipulated, so that one can design experiments addressing a range of important biological questions. Many facets of root development can be regulated by the diverse actin network found in the various root developmental regions. Various molecules impinge on this actin scaffold to define how a particular root cell type grows or responds to a specific environmental signal. Although advances in genomics are leading the way toward elucidating actin function in roots, more significant strides will be realized when such tools are combined with improved methodologies for accurately depicting how actin is organized in plant cells.