The Cytoskeleton
by Jaideep Mathur
Department of Molecular & Cellular Biology, College of Biological Sciences,
University of Guelph. ON N1G 2W1 Canada.
RFP-MAP4 labeled Microtubules interact with GFP-mTalin labeled actin Microfilament at the cell cortex.
The cytoskeleton, an arrangement of fibrous polymers that lies appressed to the membranes of a cell and constitutes a major receiver as well as transducer of diverse environmental signals. In a plant cell, the cytoskeleton, through the action of numerous interacting proteins also acts as a constantly readjusting system of scaffolds, and serves as a set of dynamic rails for motor-protein aided motility of organelles. Though not proven so far, the polymerization of cytoskeletal elements might also have a role in organelle and vesicle movement.
Microtubules and actin microfilaments are recognized as the two major cytoskeletal systems in higher plants. We owe a large proportion of our knowledge on the plant cytoskeleton to excellent studies carried out using the time-consuming and skill-involving technique of microinjection. Since 1998 a number of FP-based probes have been developed for visualization of cytoskeletal elements and are discussed in the sections on Microtubules by Geoff Wasteneys and on The Actin Cytoskeleton by Elison Blancaflor.
Microtubules and actin microfilaments are recognized as the two major cytoskeletal systems in higher plants. We owe a large proportion of our knowledge on the plant cytoskeleton to excellent studies carried out using the time-consuming and skill-involving technique of microinjection. Since 1998 a number of FP-based probes have been developed for visualization of cytoskeletal elements and are discussed in the sections on Microtubules by Geoff Wasteneys and on The Actin Cytoskeleton by Elison Blancaflor.