title: Is microtubule disassembly a trigger for cold acclimation?
abstract: Cold acclimation was followed in three cultivars of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) that differ in freezing tolerance, using root growth as the indicator. During acclimation (followed through 7 d at 4 degrees C), growth rate progressively recovered. The recovery was fast in the tolerant, slow in the sensitive cultivars. The development of freezing tolerance was followed by a challenging cold shock administered after various time intervals of acclimation. Acclimation proceeded faster in the tolerant cultivars. Microtubules were monitored during the acclimation period. A rapid, but transient partial disassembly in the tolerant cultivars preceded the formation of cold-stable microtubules and the recovery of growth rate. In contrast, this transient disassembly was absent in the sensitive cultivar. When a transient disassembly was artificially generated by a pulse-treatment with the antimicrotubular herbicide pronamide, this could induce freezing tolerance. The appearance of cold-stable microtubules was accompanied by a reduced abundance of type TUA1/2 alpha-tubulin isotypes. These findings are discussed with respect to a role of microtubule disassembly in the sensing of low-temperature stress.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Biologie II, Schänzlestr. 1, 79104 Freiburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Albina
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Abdrakhamanova
authors.forename: Qi Yan
authors.initials: QY
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Ludmila
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Khokhlova
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Nick
mesh_terms: D000064:Acclimatization / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D001549:Benzamides / Q000494:pharmacology; D003080:Cold Temperature; D006540:Herbicides / Q000494:pharmacology; D008870:Microtubules / Q000502:physiology*; D014908:Triticum / Q000502:physiology*; D014404:Tubulin / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D001549:Benzamides; D006540:Herbicides; D014404:Tubulin; C001059:pronamide