title: The function of actin-binding proteins in pollen tube growth.
abstract: Pollen tube growth is a key step in sexual reproduction of higher plants. The pollen tube is a typical example of tip-growing cells and shows a polarized cytoplasm. To develop and maintain polarized growth, pollen tubes need a carefully regulated actin cytoskeleton. It is well known that actin-binding proteins are responsible for the direct control of dynamic actin filaments and serve as a link between signal transduction pathways and dynamic actin changes in determining cellular architecture. Several of these classes have been identified in pollen tubes and their detailed characterisation is progressing rapidly. Here, we aim to survey what is known about the major actin-binding proteins that affect actin assembly and dynamics, and their higher-order organisation in pollen tube growth.
authors: Key Laboratory of Cell Proliferation and Regulation Biology of the Ministry of Education, College of Life Science, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, People's Republic of China. hren@bnu.edu.cn
authors: Haiyun
authors: H
authors: Ren
authors: Yun
authors: Y
authors: Xiang
mesh_terms: D008841:Actin Cytoskeleton / Q000378:metabolism*; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000502:physiology; D016764:Cell Polarity / Q000502:physiology; D003599:Cytoskeleton / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008840:Microfilament Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D063245:Plant Development; D010944:Plants / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D053205:Pollen Tube / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D008840:Microfilament Proteins