Journal of Cell Science 115, e702-e702 (2002)
© 2002 The Company of Biologists Limited
Plant microtubules
Microtubules in animal cells at interphase generally form highly organized
radial arrays anchored by centrosomes. Plant microtubules, by contrast, are
more dispersed, lacking obvious organizing centres. This fundamental
difference reflects the existence of the plant cell wall and to a lesser
degree the acquisition of chloroplasts. But to what extent does it necessitate
unique regulatory mechanisms? In a Commentary on
p. 1345, Geoffrey Wasteneys
discusses this question in the light of recent work that has identified
several plant microtubule-associated proteins (MAPs). The decentralized
microtubule arrays appear to self-organize, but this is coordinated by plus-
and minus-end-directed kinesin motors. These function together with a family
of 65 kDa MAPs unique to plants, which form crossbridges between adjacent
microtubules and maintain microtubule spacing. It is a relative of the
Dis1/TOG/XMAP215 family (MOR1), however, that determines the stability of
cortical arrays. Similarly, a homologue of the microtubule-severing protein
katanin p60 also plays an essential role in cortical microtubule organization.
Highly similar MAPs thus appear able to coordinate remarkably different
microtubule organization strategies.
Related articles in JCS:
- Microtubule organization in the green kingdom: chaos or self-order?
- Geoffrey O. Wasteneys
JCS 2002 115: 1345-1354.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
