Lifeact-mEGFP reveals a dynamic apical F-actin network in tip growing plant cells.
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.
Vidali
Luis
L
Department of Biology, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts, United States of America.
Rounds
Caleb M
CM
Hepler
Peter K
PK
Bezanilla
Magdalena
M
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
D000199:Actins; D019086:Bridged Bicyclo Compounds, Heterocyclic; D053778:Thiazolidines; C485184:enhanced green fluorescent protein; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins; D010590:Phalloidine; C037068:latrunculin B