title: Fungal lectin of Peltigera canina induces chemotropism of compatible Nostoc cells by constriction-relaxation pulses of cyanobiont cytoskeleton.
abstract: A glycosylated arginase acting as a fungal lectin from Peltigera canina is able to produce recruitment of cyanobiont Nostoc cells and their adhesion to the hyphal surface. This implies that the cyanobiont would develop organelles to motility towards the chemoattractant. However when visualized by transmission electron microscopy, Nostoc cells recently isolated from P. canina thallus do not reveal any motile, superficial organelles, although their surface was covered by small spindles and serrated layer related to gliding. The use of S-(3,4-dichlorobenzyl)isothiourea, blebbistatin, phalloidin and latrunculin A provide circumstantial evidence that actin microfilaments rather than MreB, the actin-like protein from prokaryota, and, probably, an ATPase which develops contractile function similar to that of myosin II, are involved in cell motility. These experimental facts, the absence of superficial elements (fimbriae, pili or flagellum) related to cell movement, and the appearance of sunken cells during of after movement verified by scanning electron microscopy, support the hypothesis that the motility of lichen cyanobionts could be achieved by contraction-relaxation episodes of the cytoskeleton induced by fungal lectin act as a chemoattractant.
authors: Intercellular Communication in Plant Symbiosis Team, Faculty of Biology, Madrid, Spain.
authors: Eva Maria
authors: EM
authors: Díaz
authors: Miguel
authors: M
authors: Vicente-Manzanares
authors: Mara
authors: M
authors: Sacristan
authors: Carlos
authors: C
authors: Vicente
authors: Maria-Estrella
authors: ME
authors: Legaz
mesh_terms: D000199:Actins / Q000378:metabolism; D001119:Arginase / Q000378:metabolism; D001203:Ascomycota / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D002633:Chemotaxis / Q000187:drug effects*; D003599:Cytoskeleton / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism*; D037102:Lectins / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008011:Lichens / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D009068:Movement / Q000187:drug effects; D024462:Myosin Type II / Q000378:metabolism; D046937:Nostoc / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000648:ultrastructure; D010590:Phalloidine / Q000494:pharmacology; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000199:Actins; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D037102:Lectins; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D010590:Phalloidine; D001119:Arginase; D024462:Myosin Type II