Organelle Movements along Actin Filaments and Microtubules

Covalent and non-covalent chemical engineering of actin for biotechnological applications

The cytoskeletal filaments are self-assembled protein polymers with 8-25nm diameters and up to several tens of micrometres length. They have a range of pivotal roles in eukaryotic cells, including transportation of intracellular cargoes (primarily microtubules with dynein and kinesin motors) and cell motility (primarily actin and myosin) where muscle contraction is one example. For two decades, the cytoskeletal filaments and their associated motor systems have been explored for nanotechnological applications including miniaturized sensor systems and lab-on-a-chip devices. Several developments have also revolved around possible exploitation of the filaments alone without their motor partners. Efforts to use the cytoskeletal filaments for applications often require chemical or genetic engineering of the filaments such as specific conjugation with fluorophores, antibodies, oligonucleotides or various macromolecular complexes e.g. nanoparticles. Similar conjugation methods are also instrumental for a range of fundamental biophysical studies. Here we review methods for non-covalent and covalent chemical modifications of actin filaments with focus on critical advantages and challenges of different methods as well as critical steps in the conjugation procedures. We also review potential uses of the engineered actin filaments in nanotechnological applications and in some key fundamental studies of actin and myosin function. Finally, we consider possible future lines of investigation that may be addressed by applying chemical conjugation of actin in new ways.

Embryogenesis in Sedum acre L.: structural and immunocytochemical aspects of suspensor development

The changes in the formation of both the actin and the microtubular cytoskeleton during the differentiation of the embryo-suspensor in Sedum acre were studied in comparison with the development of the embryo-proper. The presence and distribution of the cytoskeletal elements were examined ultrastructurally and with the light microscope using immunolabelling and rhodamine-phalloidin staining. At the globular stage of embryo development extensive array of actin filaments is present in the cytoplasm of basal cell, the microfilament bundles generally run parallel to the long axis of basal cell and pass in close to the nucleus. Microtubules form irregular bundles in the cytoplasm of the basal cell. A strongly fluorescent densely packed microtubules are present in the cytoplasmic layer adjacent to the wall separating the basal cell from the first layer of the chalazal suspensor cells. At the heart-stage of embryo development, in the basal cell, extremely dense arrays of actin materials are located near the micropylar and chalazal end of the cell. At this stage of basal cell formation, numerous actin filaments congregate around the nucleus. In the fully differentiated basal cell and micropylar haustorium, the tubulin cytoskeleton forms a dense prominent network composed of numerous cross-linked filaments. In the distal region of the basal cell, a distinct microtubular cytoskeleton with numerous microtubules is observed in the cytoplasmic layer adjacent to the wall, separating the basal cell from the first layer of the chalazal suspensor cells. The role of cytoskeleton during the development of the suspensor in S. acre is discussed.

Ultrastructure of the siphonaceous green alga Halimeda cuneata, with emphasis on the cytoskeleton

Cytoplasm streaming is a fundamental process for the transport of molecules and organelles in plant cells. In vegetative filaments of the coenocytic green alga, Halimeda cuneata Hering, the spatial organisation of microtubules in the cytoplasmic layer, was observed under transmission electron microscopy. A cross section of a cortical filament shows a tubular cell wall enclosing a peripheral layer of cytoplasm with numerous chloroplasts, amyloplasts, nuclei, mitochondria and microtubules surrounding a small central vacuole. Towards the thallus medulla the central vacuole enlarges considerably and the cytoplasm becomes gradually reduced to a thin parietal layer, the number of organelles is reduced and the quantity of microtubules increases. Therefore, most of the thallus volume is occupied by the huge central vacuole which extends throughout the coenocytic filaments. Microtubules run longitudinally, being about 0.05 microm from each other. Some microtubules were observed in close association to cell organelles.

Analysis of the myosins encoded in the recently completed Arabidopsis thaliana genome sequence

BACKGROUND

Three types of molecular motors play an important role in the organization, dynamics and transport processes associated with the cytoskeleton. The myosin family of molecular motors move cargo on actin filaments, whereas kinesin and dynein motors move cargo along microtubules. These motors have been highly characterized in non-plant systems and information is becoming available about plant motors. The actin cytoskeleton in plants has been shown to be involved in processes such as transportation, signaling, cell division, cytoplasmic streaming and morphogenesis. The role of myosin in these processes has been established in a few cases but many questions remain to be answered about the number, types and roles of myosins in plants.

RESULTS

Using the motor domain of an Arabidopsis myosin we identified 17 myosin sequences in the Arabidopsis genome. Phylogenetic analysis of the Arabidopsis myosins with non-plant and plant myosins revealed that all the Arabidopsis myosins and other plant myosins fall into two groups - class VIII and class XI. These groups contain exclusively plant or algal myosins with no animal or fungal myosins. Exon/intron data suggest that the myosins are highly conserved and that some may be a result of gene duplication.

CONCLUSIONS

Plant myosins are unlike myosins from any other organisms except algae. As a percentage of the total gene number, the number of myosins is small overall in Arabidopsis compared with the other sequenced eukaryotic genomes. There are, however, a large number of class XI myosins. The function of each myosin has yet to be determined.

Aluminum toxicity studies in Vaucheria longicaulis var. macounii (Xanthophyta, Tribophyceae). I. Effects on cytoplasmic organization

Using differential interference contrast (DIC) and epifluorescence microscopy, we tested the hypothesis that exposure to environmentally significant levels of aluminum (Al) would cause rapid changes in cytoplasmic organization in vegetative filaments of the coenocytic alga, Vaucheria longicaulis Hoppaugh var. macounii Blum resulting in the loss of cytoplasmic streaming. In untreated cells, DIC microscopy revealed the presence of cortical cytoplasmic strands that were oriented longitudinally to the cell axis as well as sub-cortical cytoplasmic strands that exhibited a reticulate morphology. Organelles such as chloroplasts and mitochondria translocated throughout the cell in close association with the cortical longitudinal cytoplasmic strands. Staining with the lipophilic dye, 3,3-dihexyloloxacarbocyanine, revealed structures that appeared to be endoplasmic reticulum (ER). This organelle closely resembled, in location and appearance, the cytoplasmic strands visualized using DIC microscopy. The addition of Al (80 µM) resulted in the inhibition of cytoplasmic streaming as well as the dissipation of the putative cortical longitudinal ER within one minute. Subsequently, the DIC-visible cortical cytoplasmic strands exhibited progressive degrees of disorganization. Throughout these changes, chloroplasts and mitochondria remained visibly associated with the cortical cytoplasmic strands.

Molecular motors and their functions in plants

Molecular motors that hydrolyze ATP and use the derived energy to generate force are involved in a variety of diverse cellular functions. Genetic, biochemical, and cellular localization data have implicated motors in a variety of functions such as vesicle and organelle transport, cytoskeleton dynamics, morphogenesis, polarized growth, cell movements, spindle formation, chromosome movement, nuclear fusion, and signal transduction. In non-plant systems three families of molecular motors (kinesins, dyneins, and myosins) have been well characterized. These motors use microtubules (in the case of kinesines and dyneins) or actin filaments (in the case of myosins) as tracks to transport cargo materials intracellularly. During the last decade tremendous progress has been made in understanding the structure and function of various motors in animals. These studies are yielding interesting insights into the functions of molecular motors and the origin of different families of motors. Furthermore, the paradigm that motors bind cargo and move along cytoskeletal tracks does not explain the functions of some of the motors. Relatively little is known about the molecular motors and their roles in plants. In recent years, by using biochemical, cell biological, molecular, and genetic approaches a few molecular motors have been isolated and characterized from plants. These studies indicate that some of the motors in plants have novel features and regulatory mechanisms. The role of molecular motors in plant cell division, cell expansion, cytoplasmic streaming, cell-to-cell communication, membrane trafficking, and morphogenesis is beginning to be understood. Analyses of the Arabidopsis genome sequence database (51% of genome) with conserved motor domains of kinesin and myosin families indicates the presence of a large number (about 40) of molecular motors and the functions of many of these motors remain to be discovered. It is likely that many more motors with novel regulatory mechanisms that perform plant-specific functions are yet to be discovered. Although the identification of motors in plants, especially in Arabidopsis, is progressing at a rapid pace because of the ongoing plant genome sequencing projects, only a few plant motors have been characterized in any detail. Elucidation of function and regulation of this multitude of motors in a given species is going to be a challenging and exciting area of research in plant cell biology. Structural features of some plant motors suggest calcium, through calmodulin, is likely to play a key role in regulating the function of both microtubule- and actin-based motors in plants.

Establishment and maintenance of nuclear position during zoospore formation in allomyces macrogynus: roles of the cytoskeleton

The involvement of the microtubule (MT) and actin microfilament (MF) cytoskeletons in establishing nuclear positions during zoosporogenesis in Allomyces macrogynus was assessed using selective cytoskeletal disrupting treatments and documented with light microscopy. These experiments were coupled with low-speed centrifugation studies to determine the degree to which cytoskeletal elements anchor nuclear position. At the onset of zoospore formation, nuclei were positioned only in cortical cytoplasmic regions of the zoosporangia (ZS). Immunofluorescence microscopy revealed that MTs primarily emanated from centrosomal regions into the surrounding cytoplasm at this stage. During delimitation of the cytoplasm into individual uninucleate zoospores, nuclei migrated from cortical regions to become distributed throughout the cytoplasm. Coincident with nuclear migrations, MTs were primarily organized at and emanated from nuclear surfaces, forming extensive perinuclear arrays. Nuclear migrations were suppressed in ZS induced to sporulate in the presence of cytochalasin D, an actin MF inhibiting compound. Disruption of MTs with nocodazole did not block nuclear migrations, although resultant nuclear spacing was irregular. Centrifugation treatments of control and drug-treated ZS demonstrated that nuclear positions were stabilized by perinuclear MT arrays. The results indicate that nuclear motility in ZS of A. macrogynus is the result of an actin-based system while perinuclear MTs arrays function to establish and fix nuclear position during zoospore formation. Copyright 1998 Academic Press.

Restoration of movement and apical growth in the angiosperm pollen tube following cytochalasin-induced paralysis

Cytochalasin D (CD) at 5 pg ml-1arrested growth and vectorial movement in pollen tubes ofNarcissus pseudonarcissusandEndymion nonscriptusand caused the mainly longitudinally oriented actin fibrils in the vegetative cells to coalesce and form massive, more randomly oriented, cables. As extension growth was arrested, the tubes formed apical bulbs and abnormal wall thickenings. During recovery from a 10 min treatment period inE. nonscriptus, an essentially normal fibril system was reconstituted by partial dissociation of the thick cables formed during the exposure to CD. As this progressed movement was restored in the vegetative cells. Some 80 % of the blocked tubes initiated new growing points, either by producing randomly oriented swellings in sites where the wall was thinner, or by erosion and penetration of thicker zones. Contrary to expectation, the sites of the prospective growing points were not indicated in advance by any special disposition of the actin cytoskeleton. With the transition to cylindrical growth in the secondary tubes the standard stratification of the tube wall reappeared, with outer pectocellulosic and inner callosic layers. Normal movement pathways were established concomitantly, together with the apical zonation of organelles and other cytoplasmic inclusions characteristic of the extending tube. CD-treatment brought about rapid contraction of the vegetative nuclei with the loss of the elastic extensions of the nuclear envelopes. The extended form was resumed as the actin cytoskeleton was restored during recovery, and vegetative nuclei and generative cells moved into the secondary tubes where they continued to track the apex as in the normal tube.

Cell biology of early events in the plant resistance response to infection by pathogenic fungi

In addition to passive (or constitutive) defence mechanisms, plants have evolved a range of active (or inducible) responses that occur rapidly on infection with an incompatible (avirulent) pathogen and that are thought to play a major role in the expression of resistance. These defence reactions are only induced if the plant possesses the ability to recognize and respond to the pathogen. Signal reception by the host must initiate a cascade of events that lead to the expression of resistance. Some resistance responses, such as callose deposition, do not require the expression of new genes. Many responses, for example the synthesis and secretion of toxic compounds or molecules that enhance the strength of physical barriers, result from changes in the pattern of gene transcription. Other defence phenomena include hypersensitive cell collapse, intercellular signalling, and the induction of defence gene transcripts in surrounding cells. Changes in cell biochemistry and physiology are accompanied by characteristic structural modifications in the infected cells, such as the redeployment of selected organelles and dramatic modifications of the host cell wall. Recent evidence indicates that microtubules and microfilaments of the plant cytoskeleton facilitate the rapid localization of these and other plant defence responses to the region of infection. Key words: plant resistance, plant cytoskeleton, microtubules, microfilaments, fungal pathogens, polarity of defence response.

Tobacco mosaic virus movement protein associates with the cytoskeleton in tobacco cells

Tobacco mosaic virus movement protein P30 complexes with genomic viral RNA for transport through plasmodesmata, the plant intercellular connections. Although most research with P30 focuses on its targeting to and gating of plasmodesmata, the mechanisms of P30 intracellular movement to plasmodesmata have not been defined. To examine P30 intracellular localization, we used tobacco protoplasts, which lack plasmodesmata, for transfection with plasmids carrying P30 coding sequences under a constitutive promoter and for infection with tobacco mosaic virus particles. In both systems, P30 appears as filaments that colocalize primarily with microtubules. To a lesser extent, P30 filaments colocalize with actin filaments, and in vitro experiments suggested that P30 can bind directly to actin and tubulin. This association of P30 with cytoskeletal elements may play a critical role in intracellular transport of the P30-viral RNA complex through the cytoplasm to and possibly through plasmodesmata.

Role of the endothelial cytoskeleton in blood-brain-barrier permeability to protein

The role of the cytoskeletal elements, microfilaments and microtubules in cerebral endothelial permeability to protein during steady states was investigated by studies of cerebrovascular permeability to horseradish peroxidase (HRP) in rats pretreated with cytochalasin B or colchicine, agents known to disrupt microfilaments and microtubules, respectively. In addition, the effect of colchicine pretreatment on the alterations in cerebrovascular permeability that occur in acute hypertension were studied. Rats infused with cytochalasin B showed increased cerebrovascular permeability to HRP in multifocal areas of the ipsilateral hemisphere. Most of the permeable vessels were arterioles; however, capillaries and venules also showed increased permeability. Ultrastructural studies of permeable vessels showed HRP in all layers of vessel walls and in endothelial and smooth muscle cell pinocytotic vesicles, which were increased in number. Although segments of interendothelial spaces were labeled by tracer, continuous labeling of interendothelial spaces from the luminal to the abluminal end was not seen and tight junctions were not disrupted. Normotensive rats pretreated with colchicine showed no alteration in cerebrovascular permeability to HRP. Colchicine pretreatment attenuated the permeability alterations that were observed in acutely hypertensive rats. This study demonstrates that integrity of endothelial actin filaments is important for maintenance of the blood-brain barrier to protein during steady states since increased permeability occurred in the presence of an actin disrupting agent. The microtubular network had no demonstrable role during steady states; however, disruption of the microtubular network had a protective effect and prevented the development of alterations in permeability to protein in acute hypertension.

Confocal image analysis of spatial variations in immunocytochemically identified calmodulin during pollen hydration, germination and pollen tube tip growth in Nicotiana tabacum L

Using monoclonal anti-calmodulin antibodies in conjunction with confocal scanning laser microscopy we have analysed the spatial variations in the distribution pattern of calmodulin (CaM) during the sequential events of pollen hydration, germination and tube growth in Nicotiana tabacum. These immunocytochemical observations have been complemented by immunochemical studies wherein the anti-calmodulin antibody raised against pea CaM recognises a polypeptide of c. 18 kDa in the pollen extracts. Digitisation of confocally acquired optical sections of immunofluorescence images reveals that in hydrated pollen a high level of CaM is consistently present in the region of the germinal apertures. Subsequently, with the onset of germination a high CaM concentration was found associated with the plasma membrane of the germination bubble and in the cytoplasm in its vicinity, while in the vegetative cytoplasm a weak diffuse and intense punctate signal was registered. CaM immunostain was also detected in association with the plasma membrane of the tube tips in both short and long pollen tubes. Furthermore, the cytosol of the tubes invariably manifested an apically focused CaM gradient. We were, however, unable to detect any vacuolar association of CaM in the older regions of the pollen tubes. Although punctate immunostain was obvious across the pollen tube numerous punctate structures were invariably present in the extreme tip. The possible implications of these findings in development of cell polarity, polarised growth, maintenance of calcium homeostasis and CaM interactions with other mechanochemical motor proteins in effecting propulsion of organelles during pollen hydration, germination and pollen tube growth are discussed.

Identification of a gene family (kat) encoding kinesin-like proteins in Arabidopsis thaliana and the characterization of secondary structure of KatA

A gene family, designated kat, has been characterized in Arabidopsis thaliana by genomic Southern hybridization and nucleotide sequencing analysis. The kat gene family includes at least five members, named katA, katB, katC, katD and katE, whose products share appreciable sequence similarities in their presumptive ATP-binding and microtubule-binding motifs with known kinesin-like proteins. The carboxyl-terminal region of the KatA protein deduced from the nucleotide sequence of the cDNA clone has considerable homology with the mechanochemical motor domain of the kinesin heavy chain. The predicted secondary structure of the KatA protein indicates two globular domains separated by a long alpha helical coiled coil with heptad repeat structures, such as are commonly found in kinesin-like proteins.

An immunoreactive homolog of mammalian kinesin in Nicotiana tabacum pollen tubes

A cytoskeletal apparatus is involved in the movement of vesicles, organelles, and gametes in the pollen tube. The function of microfilaments has been defined quite precisely, but the role of microtubules needs to be further clarified. On the basis of immunological and biochemical investigations, we have identified a polypeptide showing common properties with kinesin, a microtubule-based motor mainly described in nonplant tissues, in the pollen tube of Nicotiana tabacum. Like mammalian kinesin, the kinesin-immunoreactive homolog from Nicotiana tabacum pollen tubes binds to mammalian microtubules in an AMP-PNP dependent manner. The kinesin-like component is likely to be involved in the movement of vesicular material in the growing pollen tube.

Immunolocalization of myosin in intact and wounded cells of the green alga Ernodesmis verticillata (Kützing) Borgesen

Myosin localization was examined in the coenocytic green alga E. verticillata using indirect immunofluorescence microscopy. A polyclonal antibody affinity-purified against the heavy chain of slime-mold myosin recognizes a 220000 to 230000 Mr protein that electrophoretically migrates slightly behind rabbit myosin. A second polypeptide of 85000 Mr is also consistently detected in immunoblots, indicating that two forms of myosin-like proteins may be present in these cells. In intact cells, myosin immunofluorescence is present on the chloroplast surfaces, in nuclei and in cytoplasmic strands between plastids. Myosin labeling also occurs in association with pyrenoids primarily in apical chloroplasts. During wound-induced cytoplasmic contractions, myosin is localized near the plasma membrane in longitudinal arrays superimposed over a reticulate pattern of fluorescence; both these patterns become apparent upon wounding. Double-label immunofluorescence of actin and myosin demonstrates that these arrays represent the longitudinal bundles of actin microfilaments and the actin-containing reticulum, the former being directly associated with contraction in these cells. These results indicate that both actin and myosin are associated with contractility in Ernodesmis, probably representing the apparatus and "molecular motor", respectively, which effect motility.

The pollen tube cytoskeleton

In the last few years the role of pollen and the pollen tube in the fertilization process in higher plants has received considerable attention. By ultrastructural, biochemical and immunofluorescent investigations it has been shown that a cytoskeletal apparatus plays a central role in pollen tube growth. Microfilaments and microtubules, in which main components are, respectively, actin and tubulin, represent the most investigated cytoskeletal components. New information has been recently provided by the identification of myosin and also of a kinesin-like protein. The pollen tube cytoskeleton consists of two different cytoskeletal systems: the vegetative cell cytoskeleton, namely the cytoskeleton of the pollen grain and pollen tube, and the gamete cytoskeleton (generative cell and sperm cell cytoskeleton). The vegetative cell cytoskeleton plays a fundamental role in assuring the cytoplasmic movement of organelles, vesicles and gametes from the pollen grain to the pollen tube apex and consists mainly of microtubules and microfilaments. Also myosin and the kinesin-like protein are involved in the process of organelle and vesicle movement. The gamete cytoskeleton has a central role in sperm cell formation and in the reshaping process during gamete movement inside the pollen tube. It consists mostly of microtubules and partially characterized microtubule-associated structures. Actin filaments have recently also been identified.

Movement of vesicles in cytoplasmic streaming in plasmodium

The moving velocities of vesicles in the cytoplasmic streaming of a slime mold were measured, in which all of the vesicles passing through a designated window were counted. Vesicles in the streaming are distributed in their moving velocities and the distribution itself varies with time. The mean velocity of vesicles and its standard deviation were found to exhibit a linear relationship, suggesting a possibility that vesicles in the cytoplasm would also be involved in force generation.

Use of DNA sequence and mutant analyses and antisense oligodeoxynucleotides to examine the molecular basis of nonmuscle myosin light chain kinase autoinhibition, calmodulin recognition, and activity

The first primary structure for a nonmuscle myosin light chain kinase (nmMLCK) has been determined by elucidation of the cDNA sequence encoding the protein kinase from chicken embryo fibroblasts, and insight into the molecular mechanism of calmodulin (CaM) recognition and activation has been obtained by the use of site-specific mutagenesis and suppressor mutant analysis. Treatment of chicken and mouse fibroblasts with antisense oligodeoxynucleotides based on the cDNA sequence results in an apparent decrease in MLCK levels, an altered morphology reminiscent of that seen in v-src-transformed cells, and a possible effect on cell proliferation. nmMLCK is distinct from and larger than smooth muscle MLCK (smMLCK), although their extended DNA sequence identity is suggestive of a close genetic relationship not found with skeletal muscle MLCK. The analysis of 20 mutant MLCKs indicates that the autoinhibitory and CaM recognition activities are centered in distinct but functionally coupled amino acid sequences (residues 1,068-1,080 and 1,082-1,101, respectively). Analysis of enzyme chimeras, random mutations, inverted sequences, and point mutations in the 1,082-1,101 region demonstrates its functional importance for CaM recognition but not autoinhibition. In contrast, certain mutations in the 1,068-1,080 region result in a constitutively active MLCK that still binds CaM. These results suggest that CaM/protein kinase complexes use similar structural themes to transduce calcium signals into selective biological responses, demonstrate a direct link between nmMLCK and non-muscle cell function, and provide a firm basis for genetic studies and analyses of how nmMLCK is involved in development and cell proliferation.

Reorganization of the endoplasmic reticulum in epidermal cells of onion bulb scales after cold stress: Involvement of cytoskeletal elements

In the epidermal cells of onion (Allium cepa L.) bulb scales the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) can be subdivided into three domains: a peripheral tubular network, cisternae, and long tubular strands. The latter are the form in which the ER is moved in onion cells. During cold treatment the arrangement of the three domains changes drastically. The cisternae and long tubular strands disintegrate into short ER tubules which show rapid agitational motion. Long-distance movement is inhibited. The peripheral tubular ER network is presumably retained during cold treatment. Rewarming of previously chilled bulb scales initiates the reorganization of the ER into the three domains. The ER is partly relocated during recovery from cold treatment. Redistribution and reorganization of the ER is not affected by the microtubule-destabilizing herbicides oryzalin and trifluralin (5 μM). Cytochalasin D (2μM), however, inhibits not only the relocation of ER material, as is evident by the absence of long tubular ER strands, but also the movement of other cell organelles. The latter cluster on top of the cisternae in a manner which is characteristic of treatment with the actin-filament inhibitor. The array of actin filaments is similar in unstressed, cold-treated cells, and cells which recover from low temperatures in the presence of oryzalin or tap water alone. In the presence of cytochalasin D the actin filaments are severely fragmented. The results indicate that low temperatures most likely influence either the interaction of the force-generating system, probably myosin, with actin filaments, or the force-generating mechanism of the actomyosin-driven intracellular movement, but do not affect actin-filament integrity.

Actin cytoskeleton in intact and wounded coenocytic green algae

The subcellular distribution of actin was investigated in two related species of coenocytic green algae, with immunofluorescence microscopy. Either no, or fine punctate fluorescence was detected in intact cells of Ernodesmis verticillata (Kützing) Børgesen and Boergesenia forbesii (Harvey) Feldmann. A reticulate pattern of fluorescence appears throughout the cortical cytoplasm of Ernodesmis cells shortly after wounding; this silhouettes chloroplasts and small vacuoles. Slender, longitudinal bundles of actin become evident in contracting regions of the cell, superimposed over the reticulum. Thicker portions of the bundles were observed in well-contracted regions, and the highly-convoluted appearance of nearby cortical microtubules indicates contraction of the bundles in these thicker areas. Bundles are no longer evident after healing; only the reticulum remains. In Boergesenia, a wider-mesh reticulum of actin develops in the cortex of wounded cells, which widens further as contractions continue. Cells wounded in Ca(2+)-free medium do not contract, and although the actin reticulum is apparent, no actin bundles were ever observed in these cells. Exogenously applied cytochalasins have no effect on contractions of cut cells or extruded cytoplasm, and normal actin-bundle formation occurs in treated cells. In contrast, erythro-9-[3-(2-hydroxynonyl)]adenine (EHNA) completely inhibits longitudinal contractions in wounded cells, and few uniformly slender actin bundles develop in inhibited cells. These results indicate that wounding stimulates a Ca(2+)-dependent, hierarchical assembly of actin into bundles, whose assembly and functioning are inhibited by EHNA. Contraction of the bundles and concomitant wound healing are followed by cessation of motility and disassembly of the bundles. The spatial and temporal association of the bundles with regions of cytoplasmic contraction, indicates that the actin bundles are directly involved in wound-induced cytoplasmic motility in these algae.