title: Lifeact-mEGFP reveals a dynamic apical F-actin network in tip growing plant cells.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Actin is essential for tip growth in plants. However, imaging actin in live plant cells has heretofore presented challenges. In previous studies, fluorescent probes derived from actin-binding proteins often alter growth, cause actin bundling and fail to resolve actin microfilaments.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In this report we use Lifeact-mEGFP, an actin probe that does not affect the dynamics of actin, to visualize actin in the moss Physcomitrella patens and pollen tubes from Lilium formosanum and Nicotiana tobaccum. Lifeact-mEGFP robustly labels actin microfilaments, particularly in the apex, in both moss protonemata and pollen tubes. Lifeact-mEGFP also labels filamentous actin structures in other moss cell types, including cells of the gametophore.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Lifeact-mEGFP, when expressed at optimal levels does not alter moss protonemal or pollen tube growth. We suggest that Lifeact-mEGFP represents an exciting new versatile probe for further studies of actin's role in tip growing plant cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts, United States of America.
authors.forename: Luis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Vidali
authors.forename: Caleb M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Rounds
authors.forename: Peter K
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Hepler
authors.forename: Magdalena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bezanilla
mesh_terms: D000199:Actins / Q000378:metabolism*; D019086:Bridged Bicyclo Compounds, Heterocyclic / Q000494:pharmacology; D019068:Bryopsida / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D016764:Cell Polarity / Q000187:drug effects; D005854:Germ Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D027762:Lilium / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D010590:Phalloidine / Q000378:metabolism; D059828:Plant Cells; D063245:Plant Development; D010944:Plants / Q000187:drug effects; D053205:Pollen Tube / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D013194:Staining and Labeling; D053778:Thiazolidines / Q000494:pharmacology; D016707:Tissue Fixation; D014026:Nicotiana / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development
chemical_list: D000199:Actins; D019086:Bridged Bicyclo Compounds, Heterocyclic; D053778:Thiazolidines; C485184:enhanced green fluorescent protein; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins; D010590:Phalloidine; C037068:latrunculin B