Multicolour three dimensional structured illumination microscopy of immunolabeled plant microtubules and associated proteins

New insights into the functions and regulations of MAP215/MOR1 and katanin, two conserved microtubule-associated proteins in Arabidopsis

Plant microtubules (MTs) form highly dynamic and distinct arrays throughout the cell cycle and are essential for cell and organ morphogenesis. A plethora of microtubule associated-proteins (MAPs), both conserved and plant-specific, ensure the dynamic response of MTs to internal and external cues. The MAP215 family MT polymerase/nucleation factor and the MT severing enzyme katanin are among the most conserved MAPs in eukaryotes. Recent studies have revealed unexpected functional and physical interactions between MICROTUBULE ORGANIZATION 1 (MOR1), the Arabidopsis homolog of MAP215, and KATANIN 1 (KTN1), the catalytic subunit of katanin. In this minireview, we provide a short overview on current understanding of the functions and regulations of MOR1 and katanin in cell morphogenesis and plant growth and development.

Cytoskeleton as a roadmap navigating rhizobia to establish symbiotic root nodulation in legumes

Legumes enter into symbiotic associations with soil nitrogen-fixing rhizobia, culminating in the creation of new organs, root nodules. This complex process relies on chemical and physical interaction between legumes and rhizobia, including early signalling events informing the host legume plant of a potentially beneficial microbe and triggering the nodulation program. The great significance of this plant-microbe interaction rests upon conversion of atmospheric dinitrogen not accessible to plants into a biologically active form of ammonia available to plants. The plant cytoskeleton consists in a highly dynamic network and undergoes rapid remodelling upon sensing various developmental and environmental cues, including response to attachment, internalization, and accommodation of rhizobia in plant root and nodule cells. This dynamic nature is governed by cytoskeleton-associated proteins that modulate cytoskeletal behaviour depending on signal perception and transduction. Precisely localized cytoskeletal rearrangements are therefore essential for the uptake of rhizobia, their targeted delivery, and establishing beneficial root nodule symbiosis. This review summarizes current knowledge about rhizobia-dependent rearrangements and functions of the cytoskeleton in legume roots and nodules. General patterns and nodule type-, nodule stage-, and species-specific aspects of actin filaments and microtubules remodelling are discussed. Moreover, emerging evidence is provided about fine-tuning the root nodulation process through cytoskeleton-associated proteins. We also consider future perspectives on dynamic localization studies of the cytoskeleton during early symbiosis utilizing state of the art molecular and advanced microscopy approaches. Based on acquired detailed knowledge of the mutualistic interactions with microbes, these approaches could contribute to broader biotechnological crop improvement.

Binding of Tau-derived peptide-fused GFP to plant microtubules in Arabidopsis thaliana

Studies on how exogenous molecules modulate properties of plant microtubules, such as their stability, structure, and dynamics, are important for understanding and modulating microtubule functions in plants. We have developed a Tau-derived peptide (TP) that binds to microtubules and modulates their properties by binding of TP-conjugated molecules in vitro. However, there was no investigation of TPs on microtubules in planta. Here, we generated transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana plants stably expressing TP-fused superfolder GFP (sfGFP-TP) and explored the binding properties and effects of sfGFP-TP on plant microtubules. Our results indicate that the expressed sfGFP-TP binds to the plant microtubules without inhibiting plant growth. A transgenic line strongly expressing sfGFP-TP produced thick fibrous structures that were stable under conditions where microtubules normally depolymerize. This study generates a new tool for analyzing and modulating plant microtubules.

A MOF/DNA luminescent sensing platform for detection of potential COVID-19 biomarkers and drugs

COVID-19 has afflicted people's lives worldwide. Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is an important COVID-19 biomarker in human body fluids that can be used as a reference to monitor COVID-19 in real-time and therefore to reduce the risk of virus transmission. On the other hand, oseltamivir is a potential COVID-19 curing drug, but its overuse easily leads to hazardous side effects, calling for its real time monitoring in body fluids. For these purposes, a new yttrium metal-organic framework (Y-MOF) has been synthesized, in which the 5-(4-(imidazole-1-yl)phenyl)isophthalic linker contains a large aromatic backbone capable of strongly interacting with DNA sequences through π-π stacking interactions, which makes it appealing to build a unique sensor based on DNA functionalized MOFs. The MOF/DNA sequence hybrid luminescent sensing platform presents excellent optical properties associated with a high Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) efficiency. Furthermore, to construct a dual emission sensing platform, a 5'-carboxylfluorescein (FAM) labeled DNA sequence (S2) with a stem-loop structure that can specifically interact with IL-6 has been associated with the Y-MOF. The resulting Y-MOF@S2 exhibits an efficient ratiometric detection of IL-6 in human body fluids with an extremely high K_sv value 4.3 × 10⁸ M^-1 and a low detection limit (LOD) of 70 pM. Finally, the Y-MOF@S2@IL-6 hybrid platform allows the detection of oseltamivir with high sensitivity (K_sv value is as high as 5.6 × 10⁵ M^-1 and LOD is 54 nM), due to the fact that oseltamivir can disconnect the loop stem structure constructed by S2, leading to a strong quenching effect towards Y-MOF@S2@IL-6. The nature of the interactions between oseltamivir and Y-MOF has been elucidated using density functional theory calculations while the sensing mechanism for the dual detection of IL-6 and oseltamivir has been deciphered based on luminescence lifetime tests and confocal laser scanning microscopy.

Cortical microtubules contribute to division plane positioning during telophase in maize

Cell divisions are accurately positioned to generate cells of the correct size and shape. In plant cells, the new cell wall is built in the middle of the cell by vesicles trafficked along an antiparallel microtubule and a microfilament array called the phragmoplast. The phragmoplast expands toward a specific location at the cell cortex called the division site, but how it accurately reaches the division site is unclear. We observed microtubule arrays that accumulate at the cell cortex during the telophase transition in maize (Zea mays) leaf epidermal cells. Before the phragmoplast reaches the cell cortex, these cortical-telophase microtubules transiently interact with the division site. Increased microtubule plus end capture and pausing occur when microtubules contact the division site-localized protein TANGLED1 or other closely associated proteins. Microtubule capture and pausing align the cortical microtubules perpendicular to the division site during telophase. Once the phragmoplast reaches the cell cortex, cortical-telophase microtubules are incorporated into the phragmoplast primarily by parallel bundling. The addition of microtubules into the phragmoplast promotes fine-tuning of the positioning at the division site. Our hypothesis is that division site-localized proteins such as TANGLED1 organize cortical microtubules during telophase to mediate phragmoplast positioning at the final division plane.

Super-resolution fluorescence microscopic imaging in pathogenesis and drug treatment of neurological disease

Since super-resolution fluorescence microscopic technology breaks the diffraction limit that has existed for a long time in optical imaging, it can observe the process of synapses formed between nerve cells and the protein aggregation related to neurological disease. Thus, super-resolution fluorescence microscopic imaging has significantly impacted several industries, including drug development and pathogenesis research, and it is anticipated that it will significantly alter the future of life science research. Here, we focus on several typical super-resolution fluorescence microscopic technologies, introducing their benefits and drawbacks, as well as applications in several common neurological diseases, in the hope that their services will be expanded and improved in the pathogenesis and drug treatment of neurological diseases.

Multiscale microscopy to decipher plant cell structure and dynamics

New imaging methodologies with high contrast and molecular specificity allow researchers to analyze dynamic processes in plant cells at multiple scales, from single protein and RNA molecules to organelles and cells, to whole organs and tissues. These techniques produce informative images and quantitative data on molecular dynamics to address questions that cannot be answered by conventional biochemical assays. Here, we review selected microscopy techniques, focusing on their basic principles and applications in plant science, discussing the pros and cons of each technique, and introducing methods for quantitative analysis. This review thus provides guidance for plant scientists in selecting the most appropriate techniques to decipher structures and dynamic processes at different levels, from protein dynamics to morphogenesis.

Spatial proteomics of vesicular trafficking: coupling mass spectrometry and imaging approaches in membrane biology

In plants, membrane compartmentalization requires vesicle trafficking for communication among distinct organelles. Membrane proteins involved in vesicle trafficking are highly dynamic and can respond rapidly to changes in the environment and to cellular signals. Capturing their localization and dynamics is thus essential for understanding the mechanisms underlying vesicular trafficking pathways. Quantitative mass spectrometry and imaging approaches allow a system-wide dissection of the vesicular proteome, the characterization of ligand-receptor pairs and the determination of secretory, endocytic, recycling and vacuolar trafficking pathways. In this review, we highlight major proteomics and imaging methods employed to determine the location, distribution and abundance of proteins within given trafficking routes. We focus in particular on methodologies for the elucidation of vesicle protein dynamics and interactions and their connections to downstream signalling outputs. Finally, we assess their biological applications in exploring different cellular and subcellular processes.

Super-resolution microscopy reveals the number and distribution of topoisomerase IIα and CENH3 molecules within barley metaphase chromosomes

Topoisomerase IIα (Topo IIα) and the centromere-specific histone H3 variant CENH3 are key proteins involved in chromatin condensation and centromere determination, respectively. Consequently, they are required for proper chromosome segregation during cell divisions. We combined two super-resolution techniques, structured illumination microscopy (SIM) to co-localize Topo IIα and CENH3, and photoactivated localization microscopy (PALM) to determine their molecule numbers in barley metaphase chromosomes. We detected a dispersed Topo IIα distribution along chromosome arms but an accumulation at centromeres, telomeres, and nucleolus-organizing regions. With a precision of 10-50 nm, we counted ~ 20,000-40,000 Topo IIα molecules per chromosome, 28% of them within the (peri)centromere. With similar precision, we identified ~13,500 CENH3 molecules per centromere where Topo IIα proteins and CENH3-containing chromatin intermingle. In short, we demonstrate PALM as a useful method to count and localize single molecules with high precision within chromosomes. The ultrastructural distribution and the detected amount of Topo IIα and CENH3 are instrumental for a better understanding of their functions during chromatin condensation and centromere determination.

Imaging plant cells and organs with light-sheet and super-resolution microscopy

The documentation of plant growth and development requires integrative and scalable approaches to investigate and spatiotemporally resolve various dynamic processes at different levels of plant body organization. The present update deals with vigorous developments in mesoscopy, microscopy and nanoscopy methods that have been translated to imaging of plant subcellular compartments, cells, tissues and organs over the past 3 years with the aim to report recent applications and reasonable expectations from current light-sheet fluorescence microscopy (LSFM) and super-resolution microscopy (SRM) modalities. Moreover, the shortcomings and limitations of existing LSFM and SRM are discussed, particularly for their ability to accommodate plant samples and regarding their documentation potential considering spherical aberrations or temporal restrictions prohibiting the dynamic recording of fast cellular processes at the three dimensions. For a more comprehensive description, advances in living or fixed sample preparation methods are also included, supported by an overview of developments in labeling strategies successfully applied in plants. These strategies are practically documented by current applications employing model plant Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Heynh., but also robust crop species such as Medicago sativa L. and Hordeum vulgare L. Over the past few years, the trend towards designing of integrative microscopic modalities has become apparent and it is expected that in the near future LSFM and SRM will be bridged to achieve broader multiscale plant imaging with a single platform.

Membrane imaging in the plant endomembrane system

Recent studies on membrane imaging in the plant endomembrane system by 2-D/3-D CLSM and TEM provide future perspectives of whole-cell ET and cryo-FIB-aided cryo-ET analysis.

Current and future advances in fluorescence-based visualization of plant cell wall components and cell wall biosynthetic machineries

Plant cell wall-derived biomass serves as a renewable source of energy and materials with increasing importance. The cell walls are biomacromolecular assemblies defined by a fine arrangement of different classes of polysaccharides, proteoglycans, and aromatic polymers and are one of the most complex structures in Nature. One of the most challenging tasks of cell biology and biomass biotechnology research is to image the structure and organization of this complex matrix, as well as to visualize the compartmentalized, multiplayer biosynthetic machineries that build the elaborate cell wall architecture. Better knowledge of the plant cells, cell walls, and whole tissue is essential for bioengineering efforts and for designing efficient strategies of industrial deconstruction of the cell wall-derived biomass and its saccharification. Cell wall-directed molecular probes and analysis by light microscopy, which is capable of imaging with a high level of specificity, little sample processing, and often in real time, are important tools to understand cell wall assemblies. This review provides a comprehensive overview about the possibilities for fluorescence label-based imaging techniques and a variety of probing methods, discussing both well-established and emerging tools. Examples of applications of these tools are provided. We also list and discuss the advantages and limitations of the methods. Specifically, we elaborate on what are the most important considerations when applying a particular technique for plants, the potential for future development, and how the plant cell wall field might be inspired by advances in the biomedical and general cell biology fields.

Super-resolution imaging of microtubules in Medicago sativa

Study of microtubules on cellular and subcellular levels is compromised by limited resolution of conventional fluorescence microscopy. However, it is possible to improve Abbe's diffraction-limited resolution by employment of super-resolution microscopy methods. Two of them, described herein, are structured-illumination microscopy (SIM) and Airyscan laser scanning microscopy (AM). Both methods allow high-resolution imaging of cortical microtubules in plant cells, thus contributing to the current knowledge on plant morphogenesis, growth and development. Both SIM and AM provide certain advantages and characteristic features, which are described here. We present immunofluorescence localization methods for microtubules in fixed plant cells achieving high signal efficiency, superb sample stability and sub-diffraction resolution. These protocols were developed for whole-mount immunolabeling of root samples of legume crop species Medicago sativa. They also contain tips for optimal sample preparation of plants germinated from seeds as well as plantlets regenerated from somatic embryos in vitro. We describe in detail all steps of optimized protocols for sample preparation, microtubule immunolabeling and super-resolution imaging.

Complementary Superresolution Visualization of Composite Plant Microtubule Organization and Dynamics

Microtubule bundling is an essential mechanism underlying the biased organization of interphase and mitotic microtubular systems of eukaryotes in ordered arrays. Microtubule bundle formation can be exemplified in plants, where the formation of parallel microtubule systems in the cell cortex or the spindle midzone is largely owing to the microtubule crosslinking activity of a family of microtubule associated proteins, designated as MAP65s. Among the nine members of this family in Arabidopsis thaliana, MAP65-1 and MAP65-2 are ubiquitous and functionally redundant. Crosslinked microtubules can form high-order arrays, which are difficult to track using widefield or confocal laser scanning microscopy approaches. Here, we followed spatiotemporal patterns of MAP65-2 localization in hypocotyl cells of Arabidopsis stably expressing fluorescent protein fusions of MAP65-2 and tubulin. To circumvent imaging difficulties arising from the density of cortical microtubule bundles, we use different superresolution approaches including Airyscan confocal laser scanning microscopy (ACLSM), structured illumination microscopy (SIM), total internal reflection SIM (TIRF-SIM), and photoactivation localization microscopy (PALM). We provide insights into spatiotemporal relations between microtubules and MAP65-2 crossbridges by combining SIM and ACLSM. We obtain further details on MAP65-2 distribution by single molecule localization microscopy (SMLM) imaging of either mEos3.2-MAP65-2 stochastic photoconversion, or eGFP-MAP65-2 stochastic emission fluctuations under specific illumination conditions. Time-dependent dynamics of MAP65-2 were tracked at variable time resolution using SIM, TIRF-SIM, and ACLSM and post-acquisition kymograph analysis. ACLSM imaging further allowed to track end-wise dynamics of microtubules labeled with TUA6-GFP and to correlate them with concomitant fluctuations of MAP65-2 tagged with tagRFP. All different microscopy modules examined herein are accompanied by restrictions in either the spatial resolution achieved, or in the frame rates of image acquisition. PALM imaging is compromised by speed of acquisition. This limitation was partially compensated by exploiting emission fluctuations of eGFP which allowed much higher photon counts at substantially smaller time series compared to mEos3.2. SIM, TIRF-SIM, and ACLSM were the methods of choice to follow the dynamics of MAP65-2 in bundles of different complexity. Conclusively, the combination of different superresolution methods allowed for inferences on the distribution and dynamics of MAP65-2 within microtubule bundles of living A. thaliana cells.

Spatiotemporal Pattern of Ectopic Cell Divisions Contribute to Mis-Shaped Phenotype of Primary and Lateral Roots of katanin1 Mutant

Pattern formation, cell proliferation, and directional cell growth, are driving factors of plant organ shape, size, and overall vegetative development. The establishment of vegetative morphogenesis strongly depends on spatiotemporal control and synchronization of formative and proliferative cell division patterns. In this context, the progression of cell division and the regulation of cell division plane orientation are defined by molecular mechanisms converging to the proper positioning and temporal reorganization of microtubule arrays such as the preprophase microtubule band, the mitotic spindle and the cytokinetic phragmoplast. By focusing on the tractable example of primary root development and lateral root emergence in Arabidopsis thaliana, genetic studies have highlighted the importance of mechanisms underlying microtubule reorganization in the establishment of the root system. In this regard, severe alterations of root growth, and development found in extensively studied katanin1 mutants of A. thaliana (fra2, lue1, and ktn1-2), were previously attributed to defective rearrangements of cortical microtubules and aberrant cell division plane reorientation. How KATANIN1-mediated microtubule severing contributes to tissue patterning and organ morphogenesis, ultimately leading to anisotropy in microtubule organization is a trending topic under vigorous investigation. Here we addressed this issue during root development, using advanced light-sheet fluorescence microscopy (LSFM) and long-term imaging of ktn1-2 mutant expressing the GFP-TUA6 microtubule marker. This method allowed spatial and temporal monitoring of cell division patterns in growing roots. Analysis of acquired multidimensional data sets revealed the occurrence of ectopic cell divisions in various tissues including the calyptrogen and the protoxylem of the main root, as well as in lateral root primordia. Notably the ktn1-2 mutant exhibited excessive longitudinal cell divisions (parallel to the root axis) at ectopic positions. This suggested that changes in the cell division pattern and the occurrence of ectopic cell divisions contributed significantly to pleiotropic root phenotypes of ktn1-2 mutant. LSFM provided evidence that KATANIN1 is required for the spatiotemporal control of cell divisions and establishment of tissue patterns in living A. thaliana roots.