Plant Biol (Stuttg) 2002; 4(5): 619-624
DOI: 10.1055/s-2002-35436
Original Paper
Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart ·New York

Interaction between Cytokinesis-Related Callose and Cortical Microtubules in Dividing Cells of the Liverwort Riella helicophylla

P. Scherp 1 , R. Grotha 2 , U. Kutschera 2
  • 1 Biology Department, University of Louisiana, Lafayette, USA
  • 2 FB 19 Pflanzenphysiologie, Universität Kassel, Kassel, Germany
Further Information

Publication History

Received: April 11, 2002; Revision of July 16, 2002

Accepted: September 10, 2002

Publication Date:
15 November 2002 (online)

Abstract

In juvenile walls of dividing cells of the liverwort Riella helicophylla the nitroso-derivative of photolysed Nifedipine (a calcium antagonist) stimulates the deposition of callose. This enhanced biosynthesis of β-1,3-glucan can only be observed in the cell plate, the juvenile cell walls and the walls of adjacent cells. An immunocytological analysis of this effect revealed that no cortical microtubules occurred at the sites of callose deposition. The cells of the control displayed a normal distribution of cortical microtubules at the plasma membrane as long as no callose was deposited along the corresponding walls. In a second set of experiments, inhibitors of microtubule polymerization and depolymerization (amiprophosmethyl and taxol, respectively) were used. At low concentrations, these substances also caused a significant stimulation of callose deposition in the plane of cell division. Based on these findings, we propose a regulatory model of callose and cellulose biosynthesis that depends on the binding of the cellulose/callose synthase complex to cortical microtubules that may be mediated by unknown binding protein(s).

Abbreviations

ND-NIF: nitroso-derivative of photolysed Nifedipine

APM: amiprophosmethyl

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U. Kutschera

Fachbereich Biologie
Universität Kassel

Heinrich-Plett-Straße 40
34109 Kassel
Germany

Email: kut@uni-kassel.de

Section Editor: S. M. Wick

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