Microtubules regulate dynamic organization of vacuoles in Physcomitrella patens.
Eukaryotic cells have developed several essential membrane components. In flowering plants, appropriate structures and distributions of the major membrane components are predominantly regulated by actin microfilaments. In this study, we have focused on the regulatory mechanism of vacuolar structures in the moss, Physcomitrella patens. The high ability of P. patens to undergo homologous recombination enabled us stably to express green fluorescent protein (GFP) or red fluorescent protein (RFP) fusion proteins, and the simple body structure of P. patens enabled us to perform detailed visualization of the intracellular vacuolar and cytoskeletal structures. Three-dimensional analysis and high-speed time-lapse observations revealed surprisingly complex structures and dynamics of the vacuole, with inner sheets and tubular protrusions, and frequent rearrangements by separation and fusion of the membranes. Depolymerization of microtubules dramatically affected these structures and movements. Dual observation of microtubules and vacuolar membranes revealed that microtubules induced tubular protrusions and cytoplasmic strands of the vacuoles, indicative of interactions between microtubules and vacuolar membranes. These results demonstrate a novel function of microtubules in maintaining the distribution of the vacuole and suggest a functional divergence of cytoskeletal functions in land plant evolution.
Oda
Yoshihisa
Y
Department of Integrated Biosciences, Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Kashiwanoha 5-1-5, Kashiwa, Chiba 277-8562, Japan.
Hirata
Aiko
A
Sano
Toshio
T
Fujita
Tomomichi
T
Hiwatashi
Yuji
Y
Sato
Yoshikatsu
Y
Kadota
Akeo
A
Hasebe
Mitsuyasu
M
Hasezawa
Seiichiro
S
D019068:Bryopsida / Q000166:cytology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D003599:Cytoskeleton / Q000378:metabolism; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D007425:Intracellular Membranes / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D008164:Luminescent Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D008870:Microtubules / Q000378:metabolism*; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified / Q000166:cytology / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014617:Vacuoles / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D000097573:Red Fluorescent Protein
D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins; D008164:Luminescent Proteins; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D000097573:Red Fluorescent Protein