Cytoplasmic microfilaments in plant cells

F-actin in conifer roots

The distribution of F-actin in the complex tissues of a higher plant organ has been visualized by fluorescence labeling the roots of the conifers Chamaecyparis obtusa and Pseudotsuga menziesii with F-actin-specific fluorescent dye-conjugated phallicidin. F-actin is present in the parenchymatous cells of the vascular tissue. Some vascular parenchyma cells possess larger numbers of F-actin-containing structures (microfilament bundles) than are known to exist in any other higher plant cell. Tissue type appears to be an important determinant of the presence or absence of F-actin in a cell. For example, in contrast to vascular cells, cortical cells show no indication of fluorescence labeling of F-actin after incubation with fluorescent phallicidin. Cytoplasmic streaming is seen only in vascular cells and in a pattern that reflects the intracellular distribution of F-actin.

Cytology of budding and cleavage in tobacco mesophyll protoplasts cultivated in saline medium

Tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L., cv. Maryland) mesophyll protoplasts cultivated in saline medium divide by bud formation, migration of one nucleus into the bud, and subsequent furrowing. This process was investigated light and electron microscopically. The cytoplasm of the growing bud is richer in dictyosomes, rough endoplasmic reticulum profiles, mitochondria, and small vacuoles than is the cytoplasm of the mother cell, but in early stages lacks plastids. Only patches of wall material are found; most of the cell surface appears naked. Oriented sections of the cleavage furrow do not reveal a contractile ring of microfilaments under the fixation conditions used. The furrow is flanked by numerous microtubules, and is rich in coated vesicles. Nuclear division appears normal, but the phragmoplast vesicles appear empty, and the phragmoplast seems to disintegrate again later. The nucleus migrating into the bud does not show any signs of associated contractile structures. The results demonstrate that, in principle, higher plant cells are capable of a mode of division usually said to be "yeast-like". The events of karyokinesis and cell plate formation are not therefore obligatorily linked processes.

Is P-protein actin-like?-not yet

Microfilaments associated with cytoplasmic streaming in Nitella flexilis internodes can be decorated with heavy meromyosin (HMM) from rabbit, both in vitro in cytoplasmic suspensions, and in situ in glycerinated cell segments. The bound HMM consists of clearly discernible, polarized arrowheads in a regular repeat of 360-380 Å that are similar to those produced on F-actin. In contrast, similar arrowheads or decorations are not evident on P-protein filaments in sieve elements of glycerinated hypocotyl segments of Phaseolus vulgaris L. treated with HMM. Thus, these results contradict a recent claim that P-protein binds HMM and is actin-like. The mass of other evidence now available from diverse studies indicating that P-protein does not consist of actin or tubulin is discussed.

Microfilaments and microtubules in elongating parenchyma cells of Nymphoides indica

Observations on microfilaments and microtubules in elongating parenchyma cells of the central vascular bundle of Nymphoides indica (L.) O. Kuntze petiole are reported and discussed in relation to current concepts of the involvement of cellular organelles in cell wall synthesis.

Actin in the green alga, Nitella

Bundles of microfilaments very similar in appearance to actin are present in cytoplasmic suspensions obtained from Nitella flexilis. The microfilaments bind rabbit heavy meromyosin in arrowhead arrays similar to those produced on muscle actin. The arrowheads are removed with ATP. The results provide evidence that actin is present in green plants, probably in the form of microfilaments thought to be involved in cytoplasmic streaming.