title: Rhythmic chloroplast migration in the green alga Ulva: dissection of movement mechanism by differential inhibitor effects.
abstract: The chloroplasts of the green alga, Ulva lactuca L., migrate rhythmically between the outer (periclinal) cell walls in the daytime ("face" position) and the anticlinal cell walls at night ("profile" position). Both NaN3 and colchicine inhibit chloroplast movement mainly in the direction from profile towards face position. Differential drug sensitivity is suggestive of different mechanisms for the two directions of chloroplast migration. UV light reverses the inhibition by colchicine, presumably through the formation of lumicolchicine, the non-tubulin-binding isomer of colchicine. This result is indicative of microtubule involvement. Interpretation of the effects of azide is complicated by changes in the biological clock (phase delay and lengthening of the period). Cytochalasin B has no effect on chloroplast movement when added alone, but when added with colchicine it prevents colchicine inhibition of movement. We hypothesize that chloroplast position is controlled by a balance between two opposing movement systems with differential drug sensitivity.
mesh_terms: D001386:Azides / Q000494:pharmacology; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D000460:Chlorophyta / Q000187:drug effects / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D002736:Chloroplasts / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D003078:Colchicine / Q000494:pharmacology; D003571:Cytochalasin B / Q000494:pharmacology; D004121:Dimethyl Sulfoxide / Q000494:pharmacology; D004347:Drug Interactions; D009068:Movement / Q000187:drug effects; D019810:Sodium Azide
chemical_list: D001386:Azides; D003571:Cytochalasin B; D019810:Sodium Azide; D003078:Colchicine; D004121:Dimethyl Sulfoxide