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Actin: A Dynamic Framework for Multiple Plant Cell Functions pp 237–258Cite as

Actin in Characean Rhizoids and Protonemata

Tip growth, gravity sensing and photomorphogenesis

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Part of the book series: Developments in Plant and Soil Sciences ((DPSS,volume 89))

Abstract

Unicellular tip-growing cells are frequently used for investigating structural and functional aspects of the plant cytoskeleton as well as the mechanisms of oriented tip growth. Cell extension, sensing of and the response to external stimuli are all confined to a small region at the tip, the apical dome. Rhizoids and protonemata of the characean green algae are almost identical in form and both use unique BaSO4-crystal-filled statoliths for their gravity-oriented tip growth. Despite these similarities, the direction of graviresponses of rhizoids and protonemata are opposite. The actin cytoskeleton of both cell types interacts differently with the statoliths in the mediation of their positioning and movement. This cytoskeleton is also central to the mechanisms of the opposite gravitropic tip growth as well as to several other motile processes, including cytoplasmic streaming and vesicle trafficking. In this chapter, we summarize the current knowledge of the complex architecture of the actin cytoskeleton in characean rhizoids and protonemata. We present the existing models for differential gravitropic tip growth that have resulted from multiple approaches to characterize actin’s various functions in the different zones of these tip-growing cells.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Botanisches Institut, Universität Bonn, D-53115, Bonn, Germany

    Markus Braun

  2. Plant Cell Biology Group, Research School of Biological Sciences, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia

    Geoffrey O. Wasteneys

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  1. Markus Braun
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  2. Geoffrey O. Wasteneys
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C. J. Staiger F. Baluška D. Volkmann P. W. Barlow

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© 2000 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht

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Braun, M., Wasteneys, G.O. (2000). Actin in Characean Rhizoids and Protonemata. In: Staiger, C.J., Baluška, F., Volkmann, D., Barlow, P.W. (eds) Actin: A Dynamic Framework for Multiple Plant Cell Functions. Developments in Plant and Soil Sciences, vol 89. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-015-9460-8_14

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-015-9460-8_14

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-90-481-5504-0

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-015-9460-8

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