title: The molecular mechanism and physiological role of cytoplasmic streaming.
abstract: Cytoplasmic streaming occurs widely in plants ranging from algae to angiosperms. However, the molecular mechanism and physiological role of cytoplasmic streaming have long remained unelucidated. Recent molecular genetic approaches have identified specific myosin members (XI-2 and XI-K as major and XI-1, XI-B, and XI-I as minor motive forces) for the generation of cytoplasmic streaming among 13 myosin XIs in Arabidopsis thaliana. Simultaneous knockout of these myosin XI members led to a reduced velocity of cytoplasmic streaming and marked defects of plant development. Furthermore, the artificial modifications of myosin XI-2 velocity changed plant and cell sizes along with the velocity of cytoplasmic streaming. Therefore, we assume that cytoplasmic streaming is one of the key regulators in determining plant size.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Education and Integrated Arts and Sciences, Waseda University, 2-2 Wakamatsu-cho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 162-8480, Japan; Japan Science and Technology Agency, PRESTO, 4-1-8 Honcho Kawaguchi, Saitama 332-0012, Japan. Electronic address: motominaga@waseda.jp.
authors.forename: Motoki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tominaga
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Graduate School of Science, Chiba University, 1-33 Yayoi-cho, Inage-ku, Chiba 263-8522, Japan. Electronic address: k-ito@faculty.chiba-u.jp.
authors.forename: Kohji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ito
mesh_terms: D003595:Cytoplasmic Streaming; D009218:Myosins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D018521:Plant Physiological Phenomena; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D010940:Plant Proteins; D009218:Myosins