title: Directional cell expansion--turning toward actin.
abstract: Significant recent progress toward understanding directional expansion in diffusely growing plant cells concerns actin. Tools for imaging actin, including both live-cell reporters and fixation protocols, have been improved. Proteins that interact with actin have been identified and their functions probed biochemically and genetically. Specifically, members of the actin-related protein2/3 (ARP2/3) complex and the Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome Verprolin-homologous (WAVE) complex have been identified. These proteins have salient functions in shaping trichomes and leaf pavement cells. Additionally, two targets of a rho-of-plants (ROP) G-protein have been discovered that exert opposing regulatory action on actin and microtubules, a pathway that appears to be responsible for establishing the undulating shapes of pavement cells. Finally, several mutants of the fragile fiber class have revealed a link between actin organization, cell wall synthesis, and phosphoinositol signaling.
authors.affiliation: Biology Department, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts 01003, USA.
authors.forename: Alex
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bannigan
authors.forename: Tobias I
authors.initials: TI
authors.lastname: Baskin
mesh_terms: D051376:Actin-Related Protein 2-3 Complex / Q000378:metabolism; D000199:Actins / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D049108:Cell Enlargement; D016764:Cell Polarity; D051300:Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome Protein Family / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D020741:rho GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D051376:Actin-Related Protein 2-3 Complex; D000199:Actins; D051300:Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome Protein Family; D020741:rho GTP-Binding Proteins