title: Brefeldin A effects on tobacco pollen tubes.
abstract: Pollen germination and pollen tube growth were clearly affected by the drug brefeldin A: both processes could be stopped completely. Notable thickening of the cell wall was not observed in non-growing pollen tubes, and plasma streaming remained vigorous in the presence of brefeldin A. Over time, the tip region became filled with a dense cytoplasm that lacked large organelles. Ultrastructural observation showed the rapid dissociation and disappearance of Golgi bodies. The concomitant appearance of vesicle-like structures attached to the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) suggests a fusion of the Golgi with the ER similar to that which happens in animal cells. Secretory vesicles disappeared from drug-treated tubes, and the tip region became filled with tubular ER. As the actions of the drug seemed to be reversible, brefeldin A may contribute substantially to research on Golgi dynamics and tip growth in pollen tubes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Botany, University of Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: T L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Rutten
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Knuiman
mesh_terms: D001692:Biological Transport / Q000187:drug effects; D020126:Brefeldin A; D003517:Cyclopentanes / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003599:Cytoskeleton / Q000187:drug effects / Q000648:ultrastructure; D004721:Endoplasmic Reticulum / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006056:Golgi Apparatus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D010947:Plants, Toxic; D011058:Pollen / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D011134:Polysaccharides / Q000378:metabolism; D014026:Nicotiana / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000648:ultrastructure
chemical_list: D003517:Cyclopentanes; D011134:Polysaccharides; D020126:Brefeldin A