Dynamic changes and the role of the cytoskeleton during the cell cycle in higher plant cells

Physiological, structural and ultrastructural impacts of silver nanoparticles on the seagrass Cymodocea nodosa

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are an emerging contaminant, currently considered to be a significant potential risk to the coastal environment. To further test potential risk, and to determine effect concentrations and sensitive response parameters, toxic effects of environmentally relevant AgNP concentrations on the seagrass Cymodocea nodosa were evaluated. Alterations of the cytoskeleton, endoplasmic reticulum, ultrastructure, photosystem II function, oxidative stress markers, cell viability, and leaf, rhizome and root elongation in C. nodosa exposed to AgNP concentrations (0.0002-0.2 mg L^-1) under laboratory conditions for 8 days were examined. An increase in H₂O₂ level, indicating oxidative stress, occurred after the 4th day even at 0.0002 mg L^-1. Increased antioxidant enzyme activity, potentially contributing to H₂O₂ level decline at the end of the experiment, and reduced protein content were also observed. Actin filaments started to diminish on the 6th day at 0.02 mg L^-1; microtubule, endoplasmic reticulum, chloroplast and mitochondrion disturbance appeared after 8 days at 0.02 mg L^-1, while toxic effects were generally more acute at 0.2 mg L^-1. A dose-dependent leaf elongation inhibition was also observed; as for juvenile leaves, toxicity index increased from 2.8 to 40.7% with concentration. Hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) overproduction and actin filament disruption appeared to be the most sensitive response parameters, and thus could be utilized as early warning indicators of risk to seagrass meadows. A risk quotient of 1.33 was calculated, confirming previous findings, that AgNPs may pose a significant risk to the coastal environment.

A rice class-XIV kinesin enters the nucleus in response to cold

Higher plants possess a large number of kinesins, but lack the minus-end directed dynein motors. However, the kinesin class XIV has strongly expanded, and minus-end directed motors from this class may have taken over functions of cytoplasmic dyneins. In this study, we address the functional aspects of a novel rice homologue of the Arabidopsis class-XIV kinesins ATK1 and ATK5. Since a loss-of-function rice mutant of this kinesin is not viable, the function was studied in tobacco BY-2 as heterologous system. OsDLK-GFP stably expressed in BY-2 cells decorates cortical microtubules, but also can shift into the nucleus of interphase cells. Because of this peculiar localisation, we coined the name Dual Localisation Kinesin (DLK). The nuclear import of this protein is strongly and reversibly promoted in response to cold. During mitosis, OsDLK is repartitioned between spindle and phragmoplast. Motility assays in vitro using show that OsDLK can convey mutual sliding of microtubules and moves at a velocity comparable to other class-XIV kinesins. When tobacco cells overexpressing OsDLK are synchronised, they exhibit a delayed entry into metaphase, while the later phases of mitosis are accelerated. The data are discussed in relation to additional functions of this kinesin type, beyond their transport along microtubules.

Characterization and Evolution of the Cell Cycle-Associated Mob Domain-Containing Proteins in Eukaryotes

The MOB family includes a group of cell cycle-associated proteins highly conserved throughout eukaryotes, whose founding members are implicated in mitotic exit and co-ordination of cell cycle progression with cell polarity and morphogenesis. Here we report the characterization and evolution of the MOB domain-containing proteins as inferred from the 43 eukaryotic genomes so far sequenced. We show that genes for Mob-like proteins are present in at least 41 of these genomes, confirming the universal distribution of this protein family and suggesting its prominent biological function. The phylogenetic analysis reveals five distinct MOB domain classes, showing a progressive expansion of this family from unicellular to multicellular organisms, reaching the highest number in mammals. Plant Mob genes appear to have evolved from a single ancestor, most likely after the loss of one or more genes during the early stage of Viridiplantae evolutionary history. Three of the Mob classes are widespread among most of the analyzed organisms. The possible biological and molecular function of Mob proteins and their role in conserved signaling pathways related to cell proliferation, cell death and cell polarity are also presented and critically discussed.

Drought stress delays endosperm development and misregulates genes associated with cytoskeleton organization and grain quality proteins in developing wheat seeds

Drought stress is a major yield-limiting factor for wheat. Wheat yields are particularly sensitive to drought stress during reproductive development. Early seed development stage is an important determinant of seed size, one of the yield components. We specifically examined the impact of drought stress imposed during postzygotic early seed development in wheat. We imposed a short-term drought stress on plants with day-old seeds and observed that even a short-duration drought stress significantly reduced the size of developing seeds as well as mature seeds. Drought stress delayed the developmental transition from syncytial to cellularized stage of endosperm. Coincident with reduced seed size and delayed endosperm development, a subset of genes associated with cytoskeleton organization was misregulated in developing seeds under drought-stressed. Several genes linked to hormone pathways were also differentially regulated in response to drought stress in early seeds. Notably, drought stress strongly repressed the expression of wheat storage protein genes such as gliadins, glutenins and avenins as early as 3 days after pollination. Our results provide new insights on how some of the early seed developmental events are impacted by water stress, and the underlying molecular pathways that can possibly impact both grain size and quality in wheat.

Kinetics of cadmium accumulation and its effects on microtubule integrity and cell viability in the seagrass Cymodocea nodosa

The kinetics of cadmium accumulation and its effects on microtubule cytoskeleton and cell viability in leaf blades of the seagrass Cymodocea nodosa were investigated under laboratory conditions in exposure concentrations ranging from 0.5 to 40 mg L(-1). An initial rapid accumulation of cadmium was followed by a steady state. The Michaelis-Menten model adequately described metal accumulation; equilibrium concentration and uptake velocity tended to increase, whereas bioconcentration factor at equilibrium to decrease, as the exposure concentration increased. Cadmium depolymerized microtubules after 3-9 d of exposure, depending on trace metal concentration, indicating that microtubules could be used as an early biomarker of cadmium stress; cell death, occurring at later time than microtubule disturbance, was also observed. Microtubule depolymerization expressed as percentage of reduction of fluorescence intensity and cell mortality expressed as percentage of live cells increased with time. The lowest experimental tissue concentration associated with the onset of microtubule depolymerization and cell death (98.5-128.9μgg(-1)drywt, 0.5 mg L(-1) treatment, 7th and 9th d) was within the wide range of reported cadmium concentrations in leaves of seagrass species from various geographical areas. This lowest tissue concentration was exceeded up to the 3rd d at higher exposure concentrations, but toxic effects were generally detected at later time. The time periods required for the onset of depolymerization and for 10 and 50% of cells to die tended to decrease as the uptake velocity increased; in particular, significant negative correlations were found between these variables. These results suggest that toxicity appears to be a function of cadmium uptake rate rather than of the total tissue metal concentration. Hence, tissue residues should be interpreted in relation to the time frame of the exposure, while the estimation of metal uptake velocity could be utilized for predicting toxic effects. The data presented provide insight on the relationship between metal bioaccumulation and toxic effects in seagrasses and, overall, contribute to a better understanding of the impact of metals on aquatic organisms.

Microtubule integrity and cell viability under metal (Cu, Ni and Cr) stress in the seagrass Cymodocea nodosa

The effects of increasing Cu, Ni and Cr concentrations (0.5, 5, 10, 20 and 40 mg L(-1)) on microtubule organization and the viability of leaf cells of the seagrass Cymodocea nodosa for 13 consecutive days were investigated under laboratory conditions. Increased oblique microtubule orientation, microtubule depolymerization at the 5-40 mg L(-1) Ni treatments after 3 d of exposure, and a complete microtubule depolymerization at all Ni treatments after 5 d were observed. Cu depolymerised microtubules after three to 7 d of exposure, while Cr caused an extensive microtubule bundling after 9 or 11 d of exposure, depending on metal dosage. Fluorescence intensity measurements further consolidated the above phenomena. Cell death, occurring at later time than microtubule disturbance, was also observed at all Cu and Ni treatments and at the 10-40 mg L(-1) Cr treatments and adding to the above quantification of the number of dead cells clearly showed that only a portion of the cell population studied died. The data presented, being the first assessment of microtubule disturbance in seagrasses, indicate that microtubules in seagrass leaf cells could be used as a valuable and early marker of metal-induced stress in biomonitoring programmes.

Hexavalent chromium disrupts mitosis by stabilizing microtubules in Lens culinaris root tip cells

Hexavalent chromium [Cr(VI)] is an accumulating environmental pollutant due to anthropogenic activities, toxic for humans, animals and plants. Therefore, the effects of Cr(VI) on dividing root cells of lentil (Lens culinaris) were investigated by tubulin immunofluorescence and DNA staining. In Cr(VI)-treated roots, cell divisions were perturbed, the chromosomes formed irregular aggregations, multinucleate cells were produced and tubulin clusters were entrapped within the nuclei. All cell cycle-specific microtubule (MT) arrays were affected, indicating a stabilizing effect of Cr(VI) on the MTs of L. culinaris. Besides, a time- and concentration-dependent gradual increase of acetylated α-tubulin, an indicator of MT stabilization, was observed in Cr(VI)-treated roots by both immunofluorescence and western blotting. Evidence is also provided that reactive oxygen species (ROS) caused by Cr(VI), determined with the specific marker dichlorofluorescein, may be responsible for MT stabilization. Combined treatments with Cr(VI) and oryzalin revealed that Cr(VI) overcomes the depolymerizing ability of oryzalin, as it does experimentally introduced hydrogen peroxide, further supporting its stabilizing effect. In conclusion, it is suggested that the mitotic aberrations caused by Cr(VI) in L. culinaris root cells may be the result of MT stabilization rather than depolymerization, which consequently disturbs MT dynamics and their related functions.

Effects of bisphenol A on the microtubule arrays in root meristematic cells of Pisum sativum L

Bisphenol A (BPA), a widely used chemical in the plastics industry that displays weak oestrogenic properties, is an emerging environmental pollutant, potentially harmful to living organisms. The presumed cytotoxicity of BPA to plant cells has been poorly studied. To understand how BPA might influence plant cell division and affect the underlying cytoskeleton, the effects of BPA on the microtubule (MT) arrays of meristematic root-tip cells of Pisum sativum L. were investigated. Root tips of young seedlings were exposed to 20, 50 and 100mg/L BPA for 1, 3, 6, 12 and 24h. The effects of each treatment were determined by means of confocal laser scanning microscopy after immunolabelling of tubulin and counterstaining of DNA, and by use of light and transmission electron microscopy. It was found that BPA affected normal chromosome segregation, hampered the completion of cytokinesis and deranged interphase and mitotic MT arrays. BPA effects were dependent on the stage of each cell at the time of BPA entrance. Moreover, BPA induced the formation of macrotubules with a mean diameter of 32 ± 0.14 nm, compared with 23 ± 0.70 nm for the MT arrays in untreated cells. Finally, all MT arrays and macrotubules were depolymerised upon longer treatment. Taken together, the data suggest that BPA exerts acute anti-mitotic effects on meristematic root-tip cells of P. sativum, MT arrays constitute a primary sub-cellular target of BPA toxicity, and the manifested chromosomal abnormalities could be attributed to the disruption of the MT cytoskeleton.

Microtubule stability affects the unique motility of F-actin in Marchantia polymorpha

Actin microfilaments play crucial roles in diverse plant functions. Some specific cellular processes require interaction between F-actin and microtubules, and it is believed that there are direct or indirect connections between F-actin and microtubules. We previously reported that actin microfilaments exhibit unique dynamic motility in cells of the liverwort, Marchantia polymorpha; the relevance of this activity to microtubules has not been explored. To examine whether the dynamics of F-actin in M. polymorpha were somehow regulated by microtubules, we investigated the effects of stabilization or destabilization of microtubules on dynamics of actin bundles, which were visualized by Lifeact-Venus. To our surprise, both stabilization and destabilization of microtubules exerted similar effects on F-actin motility; apparent sliding movement of F-actin in M. polymorpha cells was accelerated by both oryzalin and paclitaxel, with the effect of paclitaxel more evident than that of oryzalin. Immunofluorescence staining revealed that some F-actin bundles were arrayed along with microtubules in M. polymorpha thallus cells. These results suggest that microtubules play regulatory roles in the unique F-actin dynamics in M. polymorpha.

The distribution of TPX2 in dividing leaf cells of the fern Asplenium nidus

Plant cell division requires the dynamic organisation of several microtubule arrays. The mechanisms of regulation of the above arrays are under rigorous research. Among several factors that are involved in plant microtubule dynamics, the Targeting Protein for Xklp2 (TPX2) has been found to play a role in spindle organisation, in combination with Aurora kinases, in dividing cells of angiosperms. Microtubule organisation in dividing cells of ferns exhibits certain peculiarities. Accordingly, the presence and distribution of a TPX2 homologue might be helpful in understanding the patterns and regulatory mechanisms of microtubule arrays in this plant group. In this study, a putative TPX2 homologue was identified using Western blotting in the fern Asplenium nidus. It was found, using immunostaining and CLSM, that it is co-localised with perinuclear preprophase microtubules and the prophase spindle, and follows the microtubule pattern during metaphase/anaphase and telophase. During cytokinesis, while in angiosperms TPX2 is degraded, in A. nidus the TPX2 signal persists, co-localising with the phragmoplast. In early post-cytokinetic cells, a TPX2 signal is present on the nuclear surface facing the daughter cell wall and, thereafter it is co-localised with the fern-specific microtubule aggregation that lines the new wall, which is possibly involved in cortical microtubule assembly.

Plant organelle proteomics: collaborating for optimal cell function

Organelle proteomics describes the study of proteins present in organelle at a particular instance during the whole period of their life cycle in a cell. Organelles are specialized membrane bound structures within a cell that function by interacting with cytosolic and luminal soluble proteins making the protein composition of each organelle dynamic. Depending on organism, the total number of organelles within a cell varies, indicating their evolution with respect to protein number and function. For example, one of the striking differences between plant and animal cells is the plastids in plants. Organelles have their own proteins, and few organelles like mitochondria and chloroplast have their own genome to synthesize proteins for specific function and also require nuclear-encoded proteins. Enormous work has been performed on animal organelle proteomics. However, plant organelle proteomics has seen limited work mainly due to: (i) inter-plant and inter-tissue complexity, (ii) difficulties in isolation of subcellular compartments, and (iii) their enrichment and purity. Despite these concerns, the field of organelle proteomics is growing in plants, such as Arabidopsis, rice and maize. The available data are beginning to help better understand organelles and their distinct and/or overlapping functions in different plant tissues, organs or cell types, and more importantly, how protein components of organelles behave during development and with surrounding environments. Studies on organelles have provided a few good reviews, but none of them are comprehensive. Here, we present a comprehensive review on plant organelle proteomics starting from the significance of organelle in cells, to organelle isolation, to protein identification and to biology and beyond. To put together such a systematic, in-depth review and to translate acquired knowledge in a proper and adequate form, we join minds to provide discussion and viewpoints on the collaborative nature of organelles in cell, their proper function and evolution.

Mitogen-activated protein kinase 4 is involved in the regulation of mitotic and cytokinetic microtubule transitions in Arabidopsis thaliana

• A mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase kinase (MAPKKK) double mutant, Arabidopsis homologue of nucleus and phragmoplast associated kinase (anp) anp2anp3, and the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) 4 mutant mpk4 of Arabidopsis thaliana show prominent cytokinetic defects. This prompted the analysis of mitotic and cytokinetic progression as a function of MAPK signalling. Mutants were compared with wild types untreated or treated with the specific MAPKK inhibitor PD98059. • This study included phenotype analysis, expression analysis of the MPK4 promoter, immunofluorescent localization of MPK4, tubulin and MAP65-1, and time-lapse microscopic visualization of the mitotic microtubule (MT) transitions in control, mutant and inhibitor-treated cells. • Mutant and inhibitor-treated cells showed defects in mitosis and cytokinesis, including aberrant spindle and phragmoplast formation and drastically delayed or abortive mitosis and cytokinesis. As a result, bi- and multinucleate cells were formed, ultimately disturbing the vegetative tissue patterning. MPK4 was localized to all stages of the expanding phragmoplast, in a pattern similar to that of its putative substrate MAP65-1. • In this study, MPK4 is shown to be involved in the regulation of mitosis/cytokinesis through modulation of the cell division plane and cytokinetic progression.

Glycinebetaine protects plants against abiotic stress: mechanisms and biotechnological applications

Various compatible solutes enable plants to tolerate abiotic stress, and glycinebetaine (GB) is one of the most-studied among such solutes. Early research on GB focused on the maintenance of cellular osmotic potential in plant cells. Subsequent genetically engineered synthesis of GB-biosynthetic enzymes and studies of transgenic plants demonstrated that accumulation of GB increases tolerance of plants to various abiotic stresses at all stages of their life cycle. Such GB-accumulating plants exhibit various advantageous traits, such as enlarged fruits and flowers and/or increased seed number under non-stress conditions. However, levels of GB in transgenic GB-accumulating plants are relatively low being, generally, in the millimolar range. Nonetheless, these low levels of GB confer considerable tolerance to various stresses, without necessarily contributing significantly to cellular osmotic potential. Moreover, low levels of GB, applied exogenously or generated by transgenes for GB biosynthesis, can induce the expression of certain stress-responsive genes, including those for enzymes that scavenge reactive oxygen species. Thus, transgenic approaches that increase tolerance to abiotic stress have enhanced our understanding of mechanisms that protect plants against such stress.

Application of Lifeact reveals F-actin dynamics in Arabidopsis thaliana and the liverwort, Marchantia polymorpha

Actin plays fundamental roles in a wide array of plant functions, including cell division, cytoplasmic streaming, cell morphogenesis and organelle motility. Imaging the actin cytoskeleton in living cells is a powerful methodology for studying these important phenomena. Several useful probes for live imaging of filamentous actin (F-actin) have been developed, but new versatile probes are still needed. Here, we report the application of a new probe called Lifeact for visualizing F-actin in plant cells. Lifeact is a short peptide comprising 17 amino acids that was derived from yeast Abp140p. We used a Lifeact-Venus fusion protein for staining F-actin in Arabidopsis thaliana and were able to observe dynamic rearrangements of the actin meshwork in root hair cells. We also used Lifeact-Venus to visualize the actin cytoskeleton in the liverwort Marchantia polymorpha; this revealed unique and dynamic F-actin motility in liverwort cells. Our results suggest that Lifeact could be a useful tool for studying the actin cytoskeleton in a wide range of plant lineages.

Actin microfilaments regulate vacuolar structures and dynamics: dual observation of actin microfilaments and vacuolar membrane in living tobacco BY-2 Cells

Actin microfilaments (MFs) participate in many fundamental processes in plant growth and development. Here, we report the co-localization of the actin MF and vacuolar membrane (VM), as visualized by vital VM staining with FM4-64 in living tobacco BY-2 cells stably expressing green fluorescent protein (GFP)-fimbrin (BY-GF11). The MFs were intensively localized on the VM surface and at the periphery of the cytoplasmic strands rather than at their center. The co-localization of MFs and VMs was confirmed by the observation made using transient expression of red fluorescent protein (RFP)-fimbrin in tobacco BY-2 cells stably expressing GFP-AtVam3p (BY-GV7) and BY-2 cells stably expressing gamma-tonoplast intrinsic protein (gamma-TIP)-GFP fusion protein (BY-GG). Time-lapse imaging revealed dynamic movement of MF structures which was parallel to that of cytoplasmic strands. Disruption of MF structures disorganized cytoplasmic strand structures and produced small spherical vacuoles in the VM-accumulating region. Three-dimensional reconstructions of the vacuolar structures revealed a disconnection of these small spherical vacuoles from the large vacuoles. Real-time observations and quantitative image analyses demonstrated rapid movements of MFs and VMs near the cell cortex, which were inhibited by the general myosin ATPase inhibitor, 2,3-butanedion monoxime (BDM). Moreover, both bistheonellide A (BA) and BDM treatment inhibited the reorganization of the cytoplasmic strands and the migration of daughter cell nuclei at early G1 phase, suggesting a requirement for the acto-myosin system for vacuolar morphogenesis during cell cycle progression. These results suggest that MFs support the vacuolar structures and that the acto-myosin system plays an essential role in vacuolar morphogenesis.

Intranuclear accumulation of plant tubulin in response to low temperature

Concurrently with cold-induced disintegration of microtubular structures in the cytoplasm, gradual tubulin accumulation was observed in a progressively growing proportion of interphase nuclei in tobacco BY-2 cells. This intranuclear tubulin disappeared upon rewarming. Simultaneously, new microtubules rapidly emerged from the nuclear periphery and reconstituted new cortical arrays, as was shown by immunofluorescence. A rapid exclusion of tubulin from the nucleus during rewarming was also observed in vivo in cells expressing GFP-tubulin. Nuclei were purified from cells that expressed GFP fused to an endoplasmic-reticulum retention signal (BY-2-mGFP5-ER), and green-fluorescent protein was used as a diagnostic marker to confirm that the nuclear fraction was not contaminated by nuclear-envelope proteins. These purified, GFP-free nuclei contained tubulin when isolated from cold-treated cells, whereas control nuclei were void of tubulin. Furthermore, highly conserved putative nuclear-export sequences were identified in tubulin sequences. These results led us to interpret the accumulation of tubulin in interphasic nuclei, as well as its rapid nuclear export, in the context of ancient intranuclear tubulin function during the cell cycle progression.

Cytoskeleton and morphogenesis in brown algae

BACKGROUND

Morphogenesis on a cellular level includes processes in which cytoskeleton and cell wall expansion are strongly involved. In brown algal zygotes, microtubules (MTs) and actin filaments (AFs) participate in polarity axis fixation, cell division and tip growth. Brown algal vegetative cells lack a cortical MT cytoskeleton, and are characterized by centriole-bearing centrosomes, which function as microtubule organizing centres.

SCOPE

Extensive electron microscope and immunofluorescence studies of MT organization in different types of brown algal cells have shown that MTs constitute a major cytoskeletal component, indispensable for cell morphogenesis. Apart from participating in mitosis and cytokinesis, they are also involved in the expression and maintenance of polarity of particular cell types. Disruption of MTs after Nocodazole treatment inhibits cell growth, causing bulging and/or bending of apical cells, thickening of the tip cell wall, and affecting the nuclear positioning. Staining of F-actin using Rhodamine-Phalloidin, revealed a rich network consisting of perinuclear, endoplasmic and cortical AFs. AFs participate in mitosis by the organization of an F-actin spindle and in cytokinesis by an F-actin disc. They are also involved in the maintenance of polarity of apical cells, as well as in lateral branch initiation. The cortical system of AFs was found related to the orientation of cellulose microfibrils (MFs), and therefore to cell wall morphogenesis. This is expressed by the coincidence in the orientation between cortical AFs and the depositing MFs. Treatment with cytochalasin B inhibits mitosis and cytokinesis, as well as tip growth of apical cells, and causes abnormal deposition of MFs.

CONCLUSIONS

Both the cytoskeletal elements studied so far, i.e. MTs and AFs are implicated in brown algal cell morphogenesis, expressed in their relationship with cell wall morphogenesis, polarization, spindle organization and cytokinetic mechanism. The novelty is the role of AFs and their possible co-operation with MTs.

Nanoscale intracellular organization and functional architecture mediating cellular behavior

Cells function based on a complex set of interactions that control pathways resulting in ultimate cell fates including proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis. The inter-workings of this immensely dense network of intracellular molecules are influenced by more than random protein and nucleic acid distribution where their interactions culminate in distinct cellular function. By probing the design of these biological systems from an engineering perspective, researchers can gain great insight that will aid in building and utilizing systems that are on this size scale where traditional large-scale rules may fail to apply. The organized interaction and gradient distribution in intracellular space imply a structural architecture that modulates cellular processes by influencing biochemical interactions including transport and binding-reactions. One significant structure that plays a role in this modulation is the cell cytoskeleton. Here, we discuss the cytoskeleton as a central and integrating functional structure in influencing cell processes and we describe technology useful for probing this structure. We explain the nanometer scale science of cytoskeletal structure with respect to intracellular organization, mechanotransduction, cytoskeletal-associated proteins, and motor molecules, as well as nano- and microtechnologies that are applicable for experimental studies of the cytoskeleton. This biological architecture of the cytoskeleton influences molecular, cellular, and physiological processes through structured multimodular and hierarchical principles centered on these functional filaments. Through investigating these organic systems that have evolved over billions of years, understanding in biology, engineering, and nanometer-scaled science will be advanced.

Cell cycle synchronization of tobacco BY-2 cells

Synchronization is a powerful technique for understanding cell cycle events. Here, we describe the procedure for synchronizing tobacco bright yellow 2 (BY-2) cell line, with which an exceptionally high level of synchrony can be achieved. It basically relies on an "arrest-and-release" strategy using aphidicolin, an inhibitor of DNA replication, and propyzamide, a plant-microtubule disruptant. In a single-step process using aphidicolin alone, a cell population with about 70% of the cells at mitosis can be achieved, whereas by a two-step method using the two inhibitors sequentially, the level of synchrony can reach over 90%. The method of choice depends not only on the peak mitotic cell proportion but also on the cell cycle stage that is targeted for analysis. Both procedures take about 1.5 days, and cell cycle progression can be observed from the S phase to the next G1 phase at about 12 h after a 24 h-period treatment with aphidicolin.

The role of the cell cycle machinery in resumption of postembryonic development

Cell cycle activity is required for plant growth and development, but its involvement in the early events that initiate seedling development remains to be clarified. We performed experiments aimed at understanding when cell cycle progression is activated during seed germination, and what its contribution is for proper seedling establishment. To this end, the spatial and temporal expression profiles of a large set of cell cycle control genes in germinating seeds of Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) and white cabbage (Brassica oleracea) were analyzed. The in vivo behavior of the microtubular cytoskeleton was monitored during Arabidopsis seed germination. Flow cytometry of Arabidopsis germinating seeds indicated that DNA replication was mainly initiated at the onset of root protrusion, when germination reached its end. Expression analysis of cell cycle genes with mRNA in situ localization, beta-glucuronidase assays, and semiquantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction showed that transcription of most cell cycle genes was detected only after completion of germination. In vivo green fluorescent protein analysis of the microtubule cytoskeleton demonstrated that mitosis-specific microtubule arrays occurred only when the radicle had started to protrude, although the assembly of the microtubular cytoskeleton was promptly activated once germination was initiated. Thus, seed germination involves the synthesis and/or activation of a reduced number of core cell cycle proteins, which only trigger DNA replication, but is not sufficient to drive cells into mitosis. Mitotic divisions are observed only after the radicle has protruded and presumably rely on the de novo production of other cell cycle regulators.

Higher plant cortical microtubule array analyzed in vitro in the presence of the cell wall

Plant morphogenesis depends on an array of microtubules in the cell cortex, the cortical array. Although the cortical array is known to be essential for morphogenesis, it is not known how the array becomes organized or how it functions mechanistically. Here, we report the development of an in vitro model that provides good access to the cortical array while preserving the array's organization and, importantly, its association with the cell wall. Primary roots of maize (Zea mays) are sectioned, without fixation, in a drop of buffer and then incubated as desired before eventual fixation. Sectioning removes cytoplasm except for a residuum comprising cortical microtubules, vesicles, and fragments of plasma membrane underlying the microtubules. The majority of the cortical microtubules remain in the cut-open cells for more than 1 h, fully accessible to the incubation solution. The growth zone or more mature tissue can be sectioned, providing access to cortical arrays that are oriented either transversely or obliquely to the long axis of the root. Using this assay, we report, first, that cortical microtubule stability is regulated by protein phosphorylation; second, that cortical microtubule stability is a function of orientation, with divergent microtubules within the array depolymerizing within minutes of sectioning; and third, that the polarity of microtubules in the cortical array is not uniform. These results suggest that the organization of the cortical array involves random nucleation followed by selective stabilization of microtubules formed at the appropriate orientation, and that the signal specifying alignment must treat orientations of +/- 180 degrees as equivalent.

A plant-specific subclass of C-terminal kinesins contains a conserved a-type cyclin-dependent kinase site implicated in folding and dimerization

Cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs) control cell cycle progression through timely coordinated phosphorylation events. Two kinesin-like proteins that interact with CDKA;1 were identified and designated KCA1 and KCA2. They are 81% identical and have a similar three-partite domain organization. The N-terminal domain contains an ATP and microtubule-binding site typical for kinesin motors. A green fluorescent protein (GFP) fusion of the N-terminal domain of KCA1 decorated microtubules in Bright Yellow-2 cells, demonstrating microtubule-binding activity. During cytokinesis the full-length GFP-fusion protein accumulated at the midline of young and mature expanding phragmoplasts. Two-hybrid analysis and coimmunoprecipitation experiments showed that coiled-coil structures of the central stalk were responsible for homo- and heterodimerization of KCA1 and KCA2. By western-blot analysis, high molecular mass KCA molecules were detected in extracts from Bright Yellow-2 cells overproducing the full-length GFP fusion. Treatment of these cultures with the phosphatase inhibitor vanadate caused an accumulation of these KCA molecules. In addition to dimerization, interactions within the C-terminally located tail domain were revealed, indicating that the tail could fold onto itself. The tail domains of KCA1 and KCA2 contained two adjacent putative CDKA;1 phosphorylation sites, one of which is conserved in KCA homologs from other plant species. Site-directed mutagenesis of the conserved phosphorylation sites in KCA1 resulted in a reduced binding with CDKA;1 and abolished intramolecular tail interactions. The data show that phosphorylation of the CDKA;1 site provokes a conformational change in the structure of KCA with implications in folding and dimerization.

Microtubule cytoskeleton: a track record

The plant microtubule cytoskeleton forms unique arrays during cell division and morphogenesis. Recent studies have addressed the biogenesis, turnover, spatio-temporal organisation and cellular function of microtubules. The results suggest that both conserved eukaryotic mechanisms and plant-specific modifications determine microtubule dynamics and function.