Actin dynamics in the cortical array of plant cells

Myosin XI, a model of its conserved role in plant cell tip growth

In eukaryotic cells, organelle and vesicle transport, positioning, and interactions play crucial roles in cytoplasmic organization and function. These processes are governed by intracellular trafficking mechanisms. At the core of that trafficking, the cytoskeleton and directional transport by motor proteins stand out as its key regulators. Plant cell tip growth is a well-studied example of cytoplasm organization by polarization. This polarization, essential for the cell's function, is driven by the cytoskeleton and its associated motors. This review will focus on myosin XI, a molecular motor critical for vesicle trafficking and polarized plant cell growth. We will center our discussion on recent data from the moss Physcomitrium patens and the liverwort Marchantia polymorpha. The biochemical properties and structure of myosin XI in various plant species are discussed, highlighting functional conservation across species. We further explore this conservation of myosin XI function in the process of vesicle transport in tip-growing cells. Existing evidence indicates that myosin XI actively organizes actin filaments in tip-growing cells by a mechanism based on vesicle clustering at their tips. A hypothetical model is presented to explain the essential function of myosin XI in polarized plant cell growth based on vesicle clustering at the tip. The review also provides insight into the in vivo localization and dynamics of myosin XI, emphasizing its role in cytosolic calcium regulation, which influences the polymerization of F-actin. Lastly, we touch upon the need for additional research to elucidate the regulation of myosin function.

Cooperative actin filament nucleation by the Arp2/3 complex and formins maintains the homeostatic cortical array in Arabidopsis epidermal cells

Precise control over how and where actin filaments are created leads to the construction of unique cytoskeletal arrays within a common cytoplasm. Actin filament nucleators are key players in this activity and include the conserved actin-related protein 2/3 (Arp2/3) complex as well as a large family of formins. In some eukaryotic cells, these nucleators compete for a common pool of actin monomers and loss of one favors the activity of the other. To test whether this mechanism is conserved, we combined the ability to image single filament dynamics in the homeostatic cortical actin array of living Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) epidermal cells with genetic and/or small molecule inhibitor approaches to stably or acutely disrupt nucleator activity. We found that Arp2/3 mutants or acute CK-666 treatment markedly reduced the frequency of side-branched nucleation events as well as overall actin filament abundance. We also confirmed that plant formins contribute to side-branched filament nucleation in vivo. Surprisingly, simultaneous inhibition of both classes of nucleator increased overall actin filament abundance and enhanced the frequency of de novo nucleation events by an unknown mechanism. Collectively, our findings suggest that multiple actin nucleation mechanisms cooperate to generate and maintain the homeostatic cortical array of plant epidermal cells.

Research progress on the roles of actin-depolymerizing factor in plant stress responses

Actin-depolymerizing factors (ADFs) are highly conserved small-molecule actin-binding proteins found throughout eukaryotic cells. In land plants, ADFs form a small gene family that displays functional redundancy despite variations among its individual members. ADF can bind to actin monomers or polymerized microfilaments and regulate dynamic changes in the cytoskeletal framework through specialized biochemical activities, such as severing, depolymerizing, and bundling. The involvement of ADFs in modulating the microfilaments' dynamic changes has significant implications for various physiological processes, including plant growth, development, and stress response. The current body of research has greatly advanced our comprehension of the involvement of ADFs in the regulation of plant responses to both biotic and abiotic stresses, particularly with respect to the molecular regulatory mechanisms that govern ADF activity during the transmission of stress signals. Stress has the capacity to directly modify the transcription levels of ADF genes, as well as indirectly regulate their expression through transcription factors such as MYB, C-repeat binding factors, ABF, and 14-3-3 proteins. Furthermore, apart from their role in regulating actin dynamics, ADFs possess the ability to modulate the stress response by influencing downstream genes associated with pathogen resistance and abiotic stress response. This paper provides a comprehensive overview of the current advancements in plant ADF gene research and suggests that the identification of plant ADF family genes across a broader spectrum, thorough analysis of ADF gene regulation in stress resistance of plants, and manipulation of ADF genes through genome-editing techniques to enhance plant stress resistance are crucial avenues for future investigation in this field.

Arabidopsis thaliana Subclass I ACTIN DEPOLYMERIZING FACTORs Regulate Nuclear Organization and Gene Expression

ACTIN DEPOLYMERIZING FACTOR (ADF) is a conserved protein that regulates the organization and dynamics of actin microfilaments. Eleven ADFs in the Arabidopsis thaliana genome are grouped into four subclasses, and subclass I ADFs, ADF1-4, are all expressed throughout the plant. Previously, we showed that subclass I ADFs function in the regulation of the response against powdery mildew fungus as well as in the regulation of cell size and endoreplication. Here, we report a new role of subclass I ADFs in the regulation of nuclear organization and gene expression. Through microscopic observation of epidermal cells in mature leaves, we found that the size of chromocenters in both adf4 and transgenic lines where expression of subclass I ADFs is downregulated (ADF1-4Ri) was reduced compared with that of wild-type Col-0. Arabidopsis thaliana possesses eight ACTIN (ACT) genes, among which ACT2, -7 and -8 are expressed in vegetative organs. The chromocenter size in act7, but not in the act2/8 double mutant, was enlarged compared with that in Col-0. Microarray analysis revealed that 1,818 genes were differentially expressed in adf4 and ADF1-4Ri. In particular, expression of 22 nucleotide-binding leucine-rich repeat genes, which are involved in effector-triggered plant immunity, was reduced in adf4 and ADF1-4Ri. qRT-PCR confirmed the altered expressions shown with microarray analysis. Overall, these results suggest that ADF regulates various aspects of plant physiology through its role in regulation of nuclear organization and gene expression. The mechanism how ADF and ACT regulate nuclear organization and gene expression is discussed.

Effects of environmental stress factors on the actin cytoskeleton of fungi and plants: Ionizing radiation and ROS

Actin is an abundant and multifaceted protein in eukaryotic cells that has been detected in the cytoplasm as well as in the nucleus. In cooperation with numerous interacting accessory-proteins, monomeric actin (G-actin) polymerizes into microfilaments (F-actin) which constitute ubiquitous subcellular higher order structures. Considering the extensive spatial dimensions and multifunctionality of actin superarrays, the present study analyses the issue if and to what extent environmental stress factors, specifically ionizing radiation (IR) and reactive oxygen species (ROS), affect the cellular actin-entity. In that context, this review particularly surveys IR-response of fungi and plants. It examines in detail which actin-related cellular constituents and molecular pathways are influenced by IR and related ROS. This comprehensive survey concludes that the general integrity of the total cellular actin cytoskeleton is a requirement for IR-tolerance. Actin's functions in genome organization and nuclear events like chromatin remodeling, DNA-repair, and transcription play a key role. Beyond that, it is highly significant that the macromolecular cytoplasmic and cortical actin-frameworks are affected by IR as well. In response to IR, actin-filament bundling proteins (fimbrins) are required to stabilize cables or patches. In addition, the actin-associated factors mediating cellular polarity are essential for IR-survivability. Moreover, it is concluded that a cellular homeostasis system comprising ROS, ROS-scavengers, NADPH-oxidases, and the actin cytoskeleton plays an essential role here. Consequently, besides the actin-fraction which controls crucial genome-integrity, also the portion which facilitates orderly cellular transport and polarized growth has to be maintained in order to survive IR.

Manipulation of the Host Endomembrane System by Bacterial Effectors

The endomembrane system, extending from the nuclear envelope to the plasma membrane, is critical to the plant response to pathogen infection. Synthesis and transport of immunity-related proteins and antimicrobial compounds to and from the plasma membrane are supported by conventional and unconventional processes of secretion and internalization of vesicles, guided by the cytoskeleton networks. Although plant bacterial pathogens reside mostly in the apoplast, major structural and functional modifications of the endomembrane system in the host cell occur during bacterial infection. Here, we review the dynamics of these cellular compartments, briefly, for their essential contributions to the plant defense responses and, in parallel, for their emerging roles in bacterial pathogenicity. We further focus on Pseudomonas syringae, Xanthomonas spp., and Ralstonia solanacearum type III secreted effectors that one or both localize to and associate with components of the host endomembrane system or the cytoskeleton network to highlight the diversity of virulence strategies deployed by bacterial pathogens beyond the inhibition of the secretory pathway. [Formula: see text] Copyright © 2023 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 International license.

Actin Depolymerization Factor ADF1 Regulated by MYB30 Plays an Important Role in Plant Thermal Adaptation

Actin filaments are essential for plant adaptation to high temperatures. However, the molecular mechanisms of actin filaments in plant thermal adaptation remain unclear. Here, we found that the expression of Arabidopsis actin depolymerization factor 1 (AtADF1) was repressed by high temperatures. Compared with wild-type seedlings (WT), the mutation of AtADF1 and the overexpression of AtADF1 led to promoted and inhibited plant growth under high temperature conditions, respectively. Further, high temperatures induced the stability of actin filaments in plants. Compared with WT, Atadf1-1 mutant seedlings showed more stability of actin filaments under normal and high temperature conditions, while the AtADF1 overexpression seedlings showed the opposite results. Additionally, AtMYB30 directly bound to the promoter of AtADF1 at a known AtMYB30 binding site, AACAAAC, and promoted the transcription of AtADF1 under high temperature treatments. Genetic analysis further indicated that AtMYB30 regulated AtADF1 under high temperature treatments. Chinese cabbage ADF1 (BrADF1) was highly homologous with AtADF1. The expression of BrADF1 was inhibited by high temperatures. BrADF1 overexpression inhibited plant growth and reduced the percentage of actin cable and the average length of actin filaments in Arabidopsis, which were similar to those of AtADF1 overexpression seedlings. AtADF1 and BrADF1 also affected the expression of some key heat response genes. In conclusion, our results indicate that ADF1 plays an important role in plant thermal adaptation by blocking the high-temperature-induced stability of actin filaments and is directly regulated by MYB30.

Depletion plays a pivotal role in self-incompatibility, revealing a link between cellular energy status, cytosolic acidification and actin remodelling in pollen tubes

Self-incompatibility (SI) involves specific interactions during pollination to reject incompatible ('self') pollen, preventing inbreeding in angiosperms. A key event observed in pollen undergoing the Papaver rhoeas SI response is the formation of punctate F-actin foci. Pollen tube growth is heavily energy-dependent, yet ATP levels in pollen tubes have not been directly measured during SI. Here we used transgenic Arabidopsis lines expressing the Papaver pollen S-determinant to investigate a possible link between ATP levels, cytosolic pH ([pH]_cyt ) and alterations to the actin cytoskeleton. We identify for the first time that SI triggers a rapid and significant ATP depletion in pollen tubes. Artificial depletion of ATP triggered cytosolic acidification and formation of actin aggregates. We also identify in vivo, evidence for a threshold [pH]_cyt of 5.8 for actin foci formation. Imaging revealed that SI stimulates acidic cytosolic patches adjacent to the plasma membrane. In conclusion, this study provides evidence that ATP depletion plays a pivotal role in SI upstream of programmed cell death and reveals a link between the cellular energy status, cytosolic acidification and alterations to the actin cytoskeleton in regulating Papaver SI in pollen tubes.

The TOR complex controls ATP levels to regulate actin cytoskeleton dynamics in Arabidopsis

Cells must overcome energy shortage, and the ability to do so determines their fate. The ability of cells to coordinate their cellular activities and energy status is therefore important for all living organisms. One of the major energy drains in eukaryotic cells is the constant turnover of the actin cytoskeleton, which consumes ATP during the cycle of polymerization and depolymerization. We report that the TOR complex, a master regulatory hub that integrates cellular energy information to coordinate cell growth and metabolism, controls cellular ATP levels in plant cells. We further elucidate that low ATP levels cause reduced actin dynamics in plant cells. These findings provide insight into how plant cells handle low energy situations.

Energy is essential for all cellular functions in a living organism. How cells coordinate their physiological processes with energy status and availability is thus an important question. The turnover of actin cytoskeleton between its monomeric and filamentous forms is a major energy drain in eukaryotic cells. However, how actin dynamics are regulated by ATP levels remain largely unknown in plant cells. Here, we observed that seedlings with impaired functions of target of rapamycin complex 1 (TORC1), either by mutation of the key component, RAPTOR1B, or inhibition of TOR activity by specific inhibitors, displayed reduced sensitivity to actin cytoskeleton disruptors compared to their controls. Consistently, actin filament dynamics, but not organization, were suppressed in TORC1-impaired cells. Subcellular localization analysis and quantification of ATP concentration demonstrated that RAPTOR1B localized at cytoplasm and mitochondria and that ATP levels were significantly reduced in TORC1-impaired plants. Further pharmacologic experiments showed that the inhibition of mitochondrial functions led to phenotypes mimicking those observed in raptor1b mutants at the level of both plant growth and actin dynamics. Exogenous feeding of adenine could partially restore ATP levels and actin dynamics in TORC1-deficient plants. Thus, these data support an important role for TORC1 in coordinating ATP homeostasis and actin dynamics in plant cells.

Innovation and appropriation in mycorrhizal and rhizobial Symbioses

Most land plants benefit from endosymbiotic interactions with mycorrhizal fungi, including legumes and some nonlegumes that also interact with endosymbiotic nitrogen (N)-fixing bacteria to form nodules. In addition to these helpful interactions, plants are continuously exposed to would-be pathogenic microbes: discriminating between friends and foes is a major determinant of plant survival. Recent breakthroughs have revealed how some key signals from pathogens and symbionts are distinguished. Once this checkpoint has been passed and a compatible symbiont is recognized, the plant coordinates the sequential development of two types of specialized structures in the host. The first serves to mediate infection, and the second, which appears later, serves as sophisticated intracellular nutrient exchange interfaces. The overlap in both the signaling pathways and downstream infection components of these symbioses reflects their evolutionary relatedness and the common requirements of these two interactions. However, the different outputs of the symbioses, phosphate uptake versus N fixation, require fundamentally different components and physical environments and necessitated the recruitment of different master regulators, NODULE INCEPTION-LIKE PROTEINS, and PHOSPHATE STARVATION RESPONSES, for nodulation and mycorrhization, respectively.

Arabidopsis thaliana subclass I ACTIN DEPOLYMERIZING FACTORs and vegetative ACTIN2/8 are novel regulators of endoreplication

Endoreplication is a type of cell cycle where genome replication occurs without mitosis. An increase of ploidy level by endoreplication is often associated with cell enlargement and an enhanced plant growth. Here we report Arabidopsis thaliana subclass I ACTIN DEPOLYMERIZING FACTORs (ADFs) and vegetative ACTIN2/8 as novel regulators of endoreplication. A. thaliana has 11 ADF members that are divided into 4 subclasses. Subclass I consists of four members, ADF1, -2, -3, and -4, all of which constitutively express in various tissues. We found that both adf4 knockout mutant and transgenic plants in which expressions of all of four subclass I ADFs are suppressed (ADF1-4Ri) showed an increased leaf area of mature first leaves, which was associated with a significant increase of epidermal pavement cell area. Ploidy analysis revealed that the ploidy level was significantly increased in mature leaves of ADF1-4Ri. The increased ploidy was also observed in roots of adf4 and ADF1-4Ri, as well as in dark-grown hypocotyls of adf4. Furthermore, double mutants of vegetative ACT2 and ACT8 (act2/8) exhibited an increase of leaf area and ploidy level in mature leaves. Therefore, actin-relating pathway could regulate endoreplication. The possible mechanisms that actin and ADFs regulate endoreplication are discussed.

Emerging roles of pathogen-secreted host mimics in plant disease development

Plant pathogens and parasites use multiple virulence factors to successfully infect plants. While most plant-pathogen interaction studies focus on pathogen effectors and their functions in suppressing plant immunity or interfering with normal cellular processes, other virulence factors likely also contribute. Here we highlight another important strategy used by pathogens to promote virulence: secretion of mimics of host molecules, including peptides, phytohormones, and small RNAs, which play diverse roles in plant development and stress responses. Pathogen-secreted mimics hijack the host endogenous signaling pathways, thereby modulating host cellular functions to the benefit of the pathogen and promoting infection. Understanding the mechanisms of pathogen-secreted host mimics will expand our knowledge of host-pathogen coevolution and interactions, while providing new targets for plant disease control.

Microtubule Dynamics Plays a Vital Role in Plant Adaptation and Tolerance to Salt Stress

Although recent studies suggest that the plant cytoskeleton is associated with plant stress responses, such as salt, cold, and drought, the molecular mechanism underlying microtubule function in plant salt stress response remains unclear. We performed a comparative proteomic analysis between control suspension-cultured cells (A0) and salt-adapted cells (A120) established from Arabidopsis root callus to investigate plant adaptation mechanisms to long-term salt stress. We identified 50 differentially expressed proteins (45 up- and 5 down-regulated proteins) in A120 cells compared with A0 cells. Gene ontology enrichment and protein network analyses indicated that differentially expressed proteins in A120 cells were strongly associated with cell structure-associated clusters, including cytoskeleton and cell wall biogenesis. Gene expression analysis revealed that expressions of cytoskeleton-related genes, such as FBA8, TUB3, TUB4, TUB7, TUB9, and ACT7, and a cell wall biogenesis-related gene, CCoAOMT1, were induced in salt-adapted A120 cells. Moreover, the loss-of-function mutant of Arabidopsis TUB9 gene, tub9, showed a hypersensitive phenotype to salt stress. Consistent overexpression of Arabidopsis TUB9 gene in rice transgenic plants enhanced tolerance to salt stress. Our results suggest that microtubules play crucial roles in plant adaptation and tolerance to salt stress. The modulation of microtubule-related gene expression can be an effective strategy for developing salt-tolerant crops.

Genetic suppression of defective profilin by attenuated Myosin II reveals a potential role for Myosin II in actin dynamics in vivo in fission yeast

The actin cytoskeleton plays a variety of roles in eukaryotic cell physiology, ranging from cell polarity and migration to cytokinesis. Key to the function of the actin cytoskeleton is the mechanisms that control its assembly, stability, and turnover. Through genetic analyses in Schizosaccharomyces pombe, we found that myo2-S1 (myo2-G515D), a Myosin II mutant allele, was capable of rescuing lethality caused by partial defects in actin nucleation/stability caused, for example, through compromised function of the actin-binding protein Cdc3-profilin. The mutation in myo2-S1 affects the activation loop of Myosin II, which is involved in physical interaction with subdomain 1 of actin and in stimulating the ATPase activity of Myosin. Consistently, actomyosin rings in myo2-S1 cell ghosts were unstable and severely compromised in contraction on ATP addition. These studies strongly suggest a role for Myo2 in actin cytoskeletal disassembly and turnover in vivo, and that compromise of this activity leads to genetic suppression of mutants defective in actin filament assembly/stability at the division site.

Auxin-induced actin cytoskeleton rearrangements require AUX1

The actin cytoskeleton is required for cell expansion and implicated in cellular responses to the phytohormone auxin. However, the mechanisms that coordinate auxin signaling, cytoskeletal remodeling and cell expansion are poorly understood. Previous studies examined long-term actin cytoskeleton responses to auxin, but plants respond to auxin within minutes. Before this work, an extracellular auxin receptor - rather than the auxin transporter AUXIN RESISTANT 1 (AUX1) - was considered to precede auxin-induced cytoskeleton reorganization. In order to correlate actin array organization and dynamics with degree of cell expansion, quantitative imaging tools established baseline actin organization and illuminated individual filament behaviors in root epidermal cells under control conditions and after indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) application. We evaluated aux1 mutant actin organization responses to IAA and the membrane-permeable auxin 1-naphthylacetic acid (NAA). Cell length predicted actin organization and dynamics in control roots; short-term IAA treatments stimulated denser and more parallel, longitudinal arrays by inducing filament unbundling within minutes. Although AUX1 is necessary for full actin rearrangements in response to auxin, cytoplasmic auxin (i.e. NAA) stimulated a lesser response. Actin filaments became more 'organized' after IAA stopped elongation, refuting the hypothesis that 'more organized' actin arrays universally correlate with rapid growth. Short-term actin cytoskeleton response to auxin requires AUX1 and/or cytoplasmic auxin.

Single-point ACT2 gene mutation in the Arabidopsis root hair mutant der1-3 affects overall actin organization, root growth and plant development

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

The actin cytoskeleton forms a dynamic network in plant cells. A single-point mutation in the DER1 (deformed root hairs1) locus located in the sequence of ACTIN2, a gene for major actin in vegetative tissues of Arabidopsis thaliana, leads to impaired root hair development (Ringli C, Baumberger N, Diet A, Frey B, Keller B. 2002. ACTIN2 is essential for bulge site selection and tip growth during root hair development of Arabidopsis. Plant Physiology129: 1464-1472). Only root hair phenotypes have been described so far in der1 mutants, but here we demonstrate obvious aberrations in the organization of the actin cytoskeleton and overall plant development.

METHODS

Organization of the actin cytoskeleton in epidermal cells of cotyledons, hypocotyls and roots was studied qualitatively and quantitatively by live-cell imaging of transgenic lines carrying the GFP-FABD2 fusion protein and in fixed cells after phalloidin labelling. Patterns of root growth were characterized by FM4-64 vital staining, light-sheet microscopy imaging and microtubule immunolabelling. Plant phenotyping included analyses of germination, root growth and plant biomass.

KEY RESULTS

Speed of germination, plant fresh weight and total leaf area were significantly reduced in the der1-3 mutant in comparison with the C24 wild-type. Actin filaments in root, hypocotyl and cotyledon epidermal cells of the der1-3 mutant were shorter, thinner and arranged in more random orientations, while actin bundles were shorter and had altered orientations. The wavy pattern of root growth in der1-3 mutant was connected with higher frequencies of shifted cell division planes (CDPs) in root cells, which was consistent with the shifted positioning of microtubule-based preprophase bands and phragmoplasts. The organization of cortical microtubules in the root cells of the der1-3 mutant, however, was not altered.

CONCLUSIONS

Root growth rate of the der1-3 mutant is not reduced, but changes in the actin cytoskeleton organization can induce a wavy root growth pattern through deregulation of CDP orientation. The results suggest that the der1-3 mutation in the ACT2 gene does not influence solely root hair formation process, but also has more general effects on the actin cytoskeleton, plant growth and development.

Understanding Cytoskeletal Dynamics During the Plant Immune Response

The plant cytoskeleton is a dynamic framework of cytoplasmic filaments that rearranges as the needs of the cell change during growth and development. Incessant turnover mechanisms allow these networks to be rapidly redeployed in defense of host cytoplasm against microbial invaders. Both chemical and mechanical stimuli are recognized as danger signals to the plant, and these are perceived and transduced into cytoskeletal dynamics and architecture changes through a collection of well-recognized, previously characterized players. Recent advances in quantitative cell biology approaches, along with the powerful molecular genetics techniques associated with Arabidopsis, have uncovered two actin-binding proteins as key intermediaries in the immune response to phytopathogens and defense signaling. Certain bacterial phytopathogens have adapted to the cytoskeletal-based defense mechanism during the basal immune response and have evolved effector proteins that target actin filaments and microtubules to subvert transcriptional reprogramming, secretion of defense-related proteins, and cell wall-based defenses. In this review, we describe current knowledge about host cytoskeletal dynamics operating at the crossroads of the molecular and cellular arms race between microbes and plants.

Cytoskeleton in the Parasitic Plant Cuscuta During Germination and Prehaustorium Formation

Although cytoskeleton is a driving force for cell division and growth in higher plants, there is little evidence about its components in parasitic angiosperms. Microtubules and actin filaments in cells of shoot apical meristem and root-like structure of stem holoparasites European (C. europaea L.) and Eastern (C. monogyna Vahl.) dodders, as well as in prehaustorium, the specific organ adapted to parasitism, were visualized for the first time by immunolabeling and fluorescence microscopy. The significance of cytoskeletal elements during germination and prehaustorium formation was addressed by treatments with taxol, oryzalin, latrunculin B, cytochalasin B/D, jasplakinolide, and 2,3-butanedione monoxime. In shoot apical meristem many dividing cells were observed, in contrast to root-like structure, devoid of cell divisions. Cortical microtubules were oriented transversely and/or obliquely, while actin filaments were randomly distributed in cells of both organs. Furthermore, longitudinal cortical microtubules were present in digitate cells of prehaustorium, and transverse arrays were found in its file cells. Long and short random actin filaments were also observed in prehaustorium cells. Thus, it was shown that the cytoskeleton in dodder shoot cells is organized in a similar way to non-parasitic dicots, while cytoskeletal organization has some peculiarities in quickly senescing root-like structure and prehaustorium.

Exploring the Spatiotemporal Organization of Membrane Proteins in Living Plant Cells

Plasma membrane proteins have important roles in transport and signal transduction. Deciphering the spatiotemporal organization of these proteins provides crucial information for elucidating the links between the behaviors of different molecules. However, monitoring membrane proteins without disrupting their membrane environment remains difficult. Over the past decade, many studies have developed single-molecule techniques, opening avenues for probing the stoichiometry and interactions of membrane proteins in their native environment by providing nanometer-scale spatial information and nanosecond-scale temporal information. In this review, we assess recent progress in the development of labeling and imaging technology for membrane protein analysis. We focus in particular on several single-molecule techniques for quantifying the dynamics and assembly of membrane proteins. Finally, we provide examples of how these new techniques are advancing our understanding of the complex biological functions of membrane proteins.

Behind the lines-actions of bacterial type III effector proteins in plant cells

Pathogenicity of most Gram-negative plant-pathogenic bacteria depends on the type III secretion (T3S) system, which translocates bacterial effector proteins into plant cells. Type III effectors modulate plant cellular pathways to the benefit of the pathogen and promote bacterial multiplication. One major virulence function of type III effectors is the suppression of plant innate immunity, which is triggered upon recognition of pathogen-derived molecular patterns by plant receptor proteins. Type III effectors also interfere with additional plant cellular processes including proteasome-dependent protein degradation, phytohormone signaling, the formation of the cytoskeleton, vesicle transport and gene expression. This review summarizes our current knowledge on the molecular functions of type III effector proteins with known plant target molecules. Furthermore, plant defense strategies for the detection of effector protein activities or effector-triggered alterations in plant targets are discussed.

Evolutionary Cell Biology of Proteins from Protists to Humans and Plants

During evolution, the cell as a fine-tuned machine had to undergo permanent adjustments to match changes in its environment, while "closed for repair work" was not possible. Evolution from protists (protozoa and unicellular algae) to multicellular organisms may have occurred in basically two lineages, Unikonta and Bikonta, culminating in mammals and angiosperms (flowering plants), respectively. Unicellular models for unikont evolution are myxamoebae (Dictyostelium) and increasingly also choanoflagellates, whereas for bikonts, ciliates are preferred models. Information accumulating from combined molecular database search and experimental verification allows new insights into evolutionary diversification and maintenance of genes/proteins from protozoa on, eventually with orthologs in bacteria. However, proteins have rarely been followed up systematically for maintenance or change of function or intracellular localization, acquirement of new domains, partial deletion (e.g. of subunits), and refunctionalization, etc. These aspects are discussed in this review, envisaging "evolutionary cell biology." Protozoan heritage is found for most important cellular structures and functions up to humans and flowering plants. Examples discussed include refunctionalization of voltage-dependent Ca²⁺ channels in cilia and replacement by other types during evolution. Altogether components serving Ca²⁺ signaling are very flexible throughout evolution, calmodulin being a most conservative example, in contrast to calcineurin whose catalytic subunit is lost in plants, whereas both subunits are maintained up to mammals for complex functions (immune defense and learning). Domain structure of R-type SNAREs differs in mono- and bikonta, as do Ca²⁺ -dependent protein kinases. Unprecedented selective expansion of the subunit a which connects multimeric base piece and head parts (V0, V1) of H⁺ -ATPase/pump may well reflect the intriguing vesicle trafficking system in ciliates, specifically in Paramecium. One of the most flexible proteins is centrin when its intracellular localization and function throughout evolution is traced. There are many more examples documenting evolutionary flexibility of translation products depending on requirements and potential for implantation within the actual cellular context at different levels of evolution. From estimates of gene and protein numbers per organism, it appears that much of the basic inventory of protozoan precursors could be transmitted to highest eukaryotic levels, with some losses and also with important additional "inventions."

Phytohormone and Putative Defense Gene Expression Differentiates the Response of 'Hayward' Kiwifruit to Psa and Pfm Infections

Pseudomonas syringae pv. actinidiae (Psa) and Pseudomonas syringae pv. actinidifoliorum (Pfm) are closely related pathovars infecting kiwifruit, but Psa is considered one of the most important global pathogens, whereas Pfm is not. In this study of Actinidia deliciosa 'Hayward' responses to the two pathovars, the objective was to test whether differences in plant defense responses mounted against the two pathovars correlated with the contrasting severity of the symptoms caused by them. Results showed that Psa infections were always more severe than Pfm infections, and were associated with highly localized, differential expression of phytohormones and putative defense gene transcripts in stem tissue closest to the inoculation site. Phytohormone concentrations of jasmonic acid (JA), jasmonate isoleucine (JA-Ile), salicylic acid (SA) and abscisic acid were always greater in stem tissue than in leaves, and leaf phytohormones were not affected by pathogen inoculation. Pfm inoculation induced a threefold increase in SA in stems relative to Psa inoculation, and a smaller 1.6-fold induction of JA. Transcript expression showed no effect of inoculation in leaves, but Pfm inoculation resulted in the greatest elevation of the SA marker genes, PR1 and glucan endo-1,3-beta-glucosidase (β-1,3-glucosidase) (32- and 25-fold increases, respectively) in stem tissue surrounding the inoculation site. Pfm inoculation also produced a stronger response than Psa inoculation in localized stem tissue for the SA marker gene PR6, jasmonoyl-isoleucine-12-hydrolase (JIH1), which acts as a negative marker of the JA pathway, and APETALA2/Ethylene response factor 2 transcription factor (AP2 ERF2), which is involved in JA/SA crosstalk. WRKY40 transcription factor (a SA marker) was induced equally in stems by wounding (mock inoculation) and pathovar inoculation. Taken together, these results suggest that the host appears to mount a stronger, localized, SA-based defense response to Pfm than Psa.

Actin fringes of polar cell growth

The eukaryotic actin cytoskeleton is a highly dynamic framework that is involved in many biological processes, such as cell growth, division, morphology, and motility. G-actin polymerizes into microfilaments that associate into bundles, patches, and networks, which, in turn, organize into higher order structures that are fundamental for the course of important physiological events. Actin rings are an example for such higher order actin entities, but this term represents an actually diverse set of subcellular structures that are involved in various processes. This review especially sheds light on a crucial type of non-constricting ring-like actin networks, and categorizes them under the term 'actin fringe'. These 'actin fringes' are visualized as highly dynamic and yet steady structures in the tip of various polarized growing cells. The present comprehensive overview compares the actin fringe characteristics of rapidly elongating pollen tubes with several related actin arrays in other cell types of diverse species. The current state of knowledge about various actin fringe functions is summarized, and the key role of this structure in the polar growth process is discussed.

Direct Comparison of the Performance of Commonly Employed In Vivo F-actin Markers (Lifeact-YFP, YFP-mTn and YFP-FABD2) in Tobacco Pollen Tubes

In vivo markers for F-actin organization and dynamics are extensively used to investigate cellular functions of the actin cytoskeleton, which are essential for plant development and pathogen defense. The most widely employed markers are GFP variants fused to F-actin binding domains of mouse talin (GFP-mTn), Arabidopsis fimbrin1 (GFP-FABD2) or yeast Abp140 (Lifeact-GFP). Although numerous reports describing applications of one, or occasionally more, of these markers, are available in the literature, a direct quantitative comparison of the performance of all three markers at different expression levels has been missing. Here, we analyze F-actin organization and growth rate displayed by tobacco pollen tubes expressing YFP-mTn, YFP-FABD2 or Lifeact-YFP at different levels. Results obtained establish that: (1) all markers strongly affect F-actin organization and cell expansion at high expression levels, (2) YFP-mTn and Lifeact-YFP non-invasively label the same F-actin structures (longitudinally oriented filaments in the shank, a subapical fringe) at low expression levels, (3) Lifeact-YFP displays a somewhat lower potential to affect F-actin organization and cell expansion than YFP-mTn, and (4) YFP-FABD2 generally fails to label F-actin structures at the pollen tube tip and affects F-actin organization as well as cell expansion already at lowest expression levels. As pointed out in the discussion, these observations (1) are also meaningful for F-actin labeling in other cell types, which generally respond less sensitively to F-actin perturbation than pollen tubes, (2) help selecting suitable markers for future F-actin labeling experiments, and (3) support the assessment of a substantial amount of published data resulting from such experiments.

Isolation of Actin and Actin-Binding Proteins

Actin-binding proteins mediate and regulate the dynamics of actin and the organization of highly ordered structures of F-actin. Villin is generally expressed in plant cells and is associated with G-actin or F-actin dependent on Ca²⁺ concentrations. Using a DNase I affinity column chromatography approach, the villin and the G-actin can be isolated from plant material. An outline of this method including the preparation of crude protein extract from plant material, its application on the affinity column, and the successive elution of villin with a solution containing EGTA and then of G-actin with denatured reagents is presented.

CASEIN KINASE1-LIKE PROTEIN2 Regulates Actin Filament Stability and Stomatal Closure via Phosphorylation of Actin Depolymerizing Factor

The opening and closing of stomata are crucial for plant photosynthesis and transpiration. Actin filaments undergo dynamic reorganization during stomatal closure, but the underlying mechanism for this cytoskeletal reorganization remains largely unclear. In this study, we identified and characterized Arabidopsis thaliana casein kinase 1-like protein 2 (CKL2), which responds to abscisic acid (ABA) treatment and participates in ABA- and drought-induced stomatal closure. Although CKL2 does not bind to actin filaments directly and has no effect on actin assembly in vitro, it colocalizes with and stabilizes actin filaments in guard cells. Further investigation revealed that CKL2 physically interacts with and phosphorylates actin depolymerizing factor 4 (ADF4) and inhibits its activity in actin filament disassembly. During ABA-induced stomatal closure, deletion of CKL2 in Arabidopsis alters actin reorganization in stomata and renders stomatal closure less sensitive to ABA, whereas deletion of ADF4 impairs the disassembly of actin filaments and causes stomatal closure to be more sensitive to ABA Deletion of ADF4 in the ckl2 mutant partially recues its ABA-insensitive stomatal closure phenotype. Moreover, Arabidopsis ADFs from subclass I are targets of CKL2 in vitro. Thus, our results suggest that CKL2 regulates actin filament reorganization and stomatal closure mainly through phosphorylation of ADF.

Distinct Biochemical Properties of Arabidopsis thaliana Actin Isoforms

Plants and animals express multiple actin isoforms in a manner that is dependent on tissues, organs and the stage of development. Previous genetic analyses suggested that individual actin isoforms have specific roles in cells, but there is little biochemical evidence to support this hypothesis. In this study, we purified four recombinant Arabidopsis actin isoforms, two major vegetative actin isoforms, ACT2 and ACT7, and two major reproductive isoforms, ACT1 and ACT11, and characterized them biochemically. Phalloidin bound normally to the filaments of the two reproductive actins as well as to the filaments of skeletal muscle actin. However, phalloidin bound only weakly to ACT7 filaments and hardly at all to ACT2 filaments, despite the conserved sequence of the phalloidin-binding site. Polymerization and phosphate release rates among these four actin isoforms were also significantly different. Moreover, interactions with profilin (PRF) were also different among the four Arabidopsis actin isoforms. PRF1 and PRF2 inhibited the polymerization of ACT1, ACT11 and ACT7, while ACT2 was only weakly affected. Plant actin isoforms have different biochemical properties. This result supports the idea that actin isoforms play specific roles to achieve multiple cell functions.

Using Live-Cell Markers in Maize to Analyze Cell Division Orientation and Timing

Recently developed live-cell markers provide an opportunity to explore the dynamics and localization of proteins in maize, an important crop and model for monocot development. A step-by-step method is outlined for observing and analyzing the process of division in maize cells. The steps include plant growth conditions, sample preparation, time-lapse setup, and calculation of division rates.

DeFiNe: an optimisation-based method for robust disentangling of filamentous networks

Thread-like structures are pervasive across scales, from polymeric proteins to root systems to galaxy filaments, and their characteristics can be readily investigated in the network formalism. Yet, network links usually represent only parts of filaments, which, when neglected, may lead to erroneous conclusions from network-based analyses. The existing alternatives to detect filaments in network representations require tuning of parameters over a large range of values and treat all filaments equally, thus, precluding automated analysis of diverse filamentous systems. Here, we propose a fully automated and robust optimisation-based approach to detect filaments of consistent intensities and angles in a given network. We test and demonstrate the accuracy of our solution with contrived, biological, and cosmic filamentous structures. In particular, we show that the proposed approach provides powerful automated means to study properties of individual actin filaments in their network context. Our solution is made publicly available as an open-source tool, "DeFiNe", facilitating decomposition of any given network into individual filaments.

Keeping it all together: auxin-actin crosstalk in plant development

Polar auxin transport and the action of the actin cytoskeleton are tightly interconnected, which is documented by the finding that auxin transporters reach their final destination by active movement of secretory vesicles along F-actin tracks. Moreover, auxin transporter polarity and flexibility is thought to depend on transporter cycling that requires endocytosis and exocytosis of vesicles. In this context, we have reviewed the current literature on an involvement of the actin cytoskeleton in polar auxin transport and identify known similarities and differences in its structure, function and dynamics in comparison to non-plant organisms. By describing how auxin modulates actin expression and actin organization and how actin and its stability affects auxin-transporter endocytosis and recycling, we discuss the current knowledge on regulatory auxin-actin feedback loops. We focus on known effects of auxin and of auxin transport inhibitors on the stability and organization of actin and examine the functionality of auxin and/or auxin transport inhibitor-binding proteins with respect to their suitability to integrate auxin/auxin transport inhibitor action. Finally, we indicate current difficulties in the interpretation of organ, time and concentration-dependent auxin/auxin transport inhibitor treatments and formulate simple future experimental guidelines.

Fission yeast mitochondria are distributed by dynamic microtubules in a motor-independent manner

The cytoskeleton plays a critical role in regulating mitochondria distribution. Similar to axonal mitochondria, the fission yeast mitochondria are distributed by the microtubule cytoskeleton, but this is regulated by a motor-independent mechanism depending on the microtubule associated protein mmb1p as the absence of mmb1p causes mitochondria aggregation. In this study, using a series of chimeric proteins to control the subcellular localization and motility of mitochondria, we show that a chimeric molecule containing a microtubule binding domain and the mitochondria outer membrane protein tom22p can restore the normal interconnected mitochondria network in mmb1-deletion (mmb1∆) cells. In contrast, increasing the motility of mitochondria by using a chimeric molecule containing a kinesin motor domain and tom22p cannot rescue mitochondria aggregation defects in mmb1∆ cells. Intriguingly a chimeric molecule carrying an actin binding domain and tom22p results in mitochondria associated with actin filaments at the actomyosin ring during mitosis, leading to cytokinesis defects. These findings suggest that the passive motor-independent microtubule-based mechanism is the major contributor to mitochondria distribution in wild type fission yeast cells. Hence, we establish that attachment to microtubules, but not kinesin-dependent movement and the actin cytoskeleton, is required and crucial for proper mitochondria distribution in fission yeast.

Capping protein integrates multiple MAMP signalling pathways to modulate actin dynamics during plant innate immunity

Plants and animals perceive diverse microbe-associated molecular patterns (MAMPs) via pattern recognition receptors and activate innate immune signalling. The actin cytoskeleton has been suggested as a target for innate immune signalling and a key transducer of cellular responses. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying actin remodelling and the precise functions of these rearrangements during innate immunity remain largely unknown. Here we demonstrate rapid actin remodelling in response to several distinct MAMP signalling pathways in plant epidermal cells. The regulation of actin dynamics is a convergence point for basal defence machinery, such as cell wall fortification and transcriptional reprogramming. Our quantitative analyses of actin dynamics and genetic studies reveal that MAMP-stimulated actin remodelling is due to the inhibition of capping protein (CP) by the signalling lipid, phosphatidic acid. In addition, CP promotes resistance against bacterial and fungal phytopathogens. These findings demonstrate that CP is a central target for the plant innate immune response.

Differential transcriptional networks associated with key phases of ingrowth wall construction in trans-differentiating epidermal transfer cells of Vicia faba cotyledons

BACKGROUND

Transfer cells are characterized by intricate ingrowth walls, comprising an uniform wall upon which wall ingrowths are deposited. The ingrowth wall forms a scaffold to support an amplified plasma membrane surface area enriched in membrane transporters that collectively confers transfer cells with an enhanced capacity for membrane transport at bottlenecks for apo-/symplasmic exchange of nutrients. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms regulating polarized construction of the ingrowth wall and membrane transporter profile are poorly understood.

RESULTS

An RNAseq study of an inducible epidermal transfer cell system in cultured Vicia faba cotyledons identified transfer cell specific transcriptomes associated with uniform wall and wall ingrowth deposition. All functional groups of genes examined were expressed before and following transition to a transfer cell fate. What changed were the isoform profiles of expressed genes within functional groups. Genes encoding ethylene and Ca(2+) signal generation and transduction pathways were enriched during uniform wall construction. Auxin-and reactive oxygen species-related genes dominated during wall ingrowth formation and ABA genes were evenly expressed across ingrowth wall construction. Expression of genes encoding kinesins, formins and villins was consistent with reorganization of cytoskeletal components. Uniform wall and wall ingrowth specific expression of exocyst complex components and SNAREs suggested specific patterns of exocytosis while dynamin mediated endocytotic activity was consistent with establishing wall ingrowth loci. Key regulatory genes of biosynthetic pathways for sphingolipids and sterols were expressed across ingrowth wall construction. Transfer cell specific expression of cellulose synthases was absent. Rather xyloglucan, xylan and pectin biosynthetic genes were selectively expressed during uniform wall construction. More striking was expression of genes encoding enzymes for re-modelling/degradation of cellulose, xyloglucans, pectins and callose. Extensins dominated the cohort of expressed wall structural proteins and particularly so across wall ingrowth development. Ion transporters were selectively expressed throughout ingrowth wall development along with organic nitrogen transporters and a large group of ABC transporters. Sugar transporters were less represented.

CONCLUSIONS

Pathways regulating signalling and intracellular organization were fine tuned whilst cell wall construction and membrane transporter profiles were altered substantially upon transiting to a transfer cell fate. Each phase of ingrowth wall construction was linked with unique cohorts of expressed genes.

Signaling to actin stochastic dynamics

Advances in microscopy techniques applied to living cells have dramatically transformed our view of the actin cytoskeleton as a framework for cellular processes. Conventional fluorescence imaging and static analyses are useful for quantifying cellular architecture and the network of filaments that support vesicle trafficking, organelle movement, and response to biotic stress. However, new imaging techniques have revealed remarkably dynamic features of individual actin filaments and the mechanisms that underpin their construction and turnover. In this review, we briefly summarize knowledge about actin and actin-binding proteins in plant systems. We focus on the quantitative properties of the turnover of individual actin filaments, highlight actin-binding proteins that participate in actin dynamics, and summarize the current genetic evidence that has been used to dissect specific aspects of the stochastic dynamics model. Finally, we describe some signaling pathways in which recent data implicate changes in actin filament dynamics and the associated cytoplasmic responses.

Proteomics of seed development, desiccation tolerance, germination and vigor

Proteomics, the large-scale study of the total complement of proteins in a given sample, has been applied to all aspects of seed biology mainly using model species such as Arabidopsis or important agricultural crops such as corn and rice. Proteins extracted from the sample have typically been separated and quantified by 2-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis followed by liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry to identify the proteins in the gel spots. In this way, qualitative and quantitative changes in the proteome during seed development, desiccation tolerance, germination, dormancy release, vigor alteration and responses to environmental factors have all been studied. Many proteins or biological processes potentially important for each seed process have been highlighted by these studies, which greatly expands our knowledge of seed biology. Proteins that have been identified to be particularly important for at least two of the seed processes are involved in detoxification of reactive oxygen species, the cytoskeleton, glycolysis, protein biosynthesis, post-translational modifications, methionine metabolism, and late embryogenesis-abundant (LEA) proteins. It will be useful for molecular biologists and molecular plant breeders to identify and study genes encoding particularly interesting target proteins with the aim to improve the yield, stress tolerance or other critical properties of our crop species.

Dynamic F-actin movement is essential for fertilization in Arabidopsis thaliana

In animals, microtubules and centrosomes direct the migration of gamete pronuclei for fertilization. By contrast, flowering plants have lost essential components of the centrosome, raising the question of how flowering plants control gamete nuclei migration during fertilization. Here, we use Arabidopsis thaliana to document a novel mechanism that regulates F-actin dynamics in the female gametes and is essential for fertilization. Live imaging shows that F-actin structures assist the male nucleus during its migration towards the female nucleus. We identify a female gamete-specific Rho-GTPase that regulates F-actin dynamics and further show that actin-myosin interactions are also involved in male gamete nucleus migration. Genetic analyses and imaging indicate that microtubules are dispensable for migration and fusion of male and female gamete nuclei. The innovation of a novel actin-based mechanism of fertilization during plant evolution might account for the complete loss of the centrosome in flowering plants.

The availability of filament ends modulates actin stochastic dynamics in live plant cells

A network of individual filaments that undergoes incessant remodeling through a process known as stochastic dynamics comprises the cortical actin cytoskeleton in plant epidermal cells. From images at high spatial and temporal resolution, it has been inferred that the regulation of filament barbed ends plays a central role in choreographing actin organization and turnover. How this occurs at a molecular level, whether different populations of ends exist in the array, and how individual filament behavior correlates with the overall architecture of the array are unknown. Here we develop an experimental system to modulate the levels of heterodimeric capping protein (CP) and examine the consequences for actin dynamics, architecture, and cell expansion. Significantly, we find that all phenotypes are the opposite for CP-overexpression (OX) cells compared with a previously characterized cp-knockdown line. Specifically, CP OX lines have fewer filament-filament annealing events, as well as reduced filament lengths and lifetimes. Further, cp-knockdown and OX lines demonstrate the existence of a subpopulation of filament ends sensitive to CP concentration. Finally, CP levels correlate with the biological process of axial cell expansion; for example, epidermal cells from hypocotyls with reduced CP are longer than wild-type cells, whereas CP OX lines have shorter cells. On the basis of these and other genetic studies in this model system, we hypothesize that filament length and lifetime positively correlate with the extent of axial cell expansion in dark-grown hypocotyls.

When fat is not bad: the regulation of actin dynamics by phospholipid signaling molecules

The actin cytoskeleton plays a key role in the plant morphogenesis and is involved in polar cell growth, movement of subcellular organelles, cell division, and plant defense. Organization of actin cytoskeleton undergoes dynamic remodeling in response to internal developmental cues and diverse environmental signals. This dynamic behavior is regulated by numerous actin-binding proteins (ABPs) that integrate various signaling pathways. Production of the signaling lipids phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate and phosphatidic acid affects the activity and subcellular distribution of several ABPs, and typically correlates with increased actin polymerization. Here we review current knowledge of the inter-regulatory dynamics between signaling phospholipids and the actin cytoskeleton in plant cells.

ACTIN DEPOLYMERIZING FACTOR4 regulates actin dynamics during innate immune signaling in Arabidopsis

Conserved microbe-associated molecular patterns (MAMPs) are sensed by pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) on cells of plants and animals. MAMP perception typically triggers rearrangements to actin cytoskeletal arrays during innate immune signaling. However, the signaling cascades linking PRR activation by MAMPs to cytoskeleton remodeling are not well characterized. Here, we developed a system to dissect, at high spatial and temporal resolution, the regulation of actin dynamics during innate immune signaling in plant cells. Within minutes of MAMP perception, we detected changes to single actin filament turnover in epidermal cells treated with bacterial and fungal MAMPs. These MAMP-induced alterations phenocopied an ACTIN DEPOLYMERIZING FACTOR4 (ADF4) knockout mutant. Moreover, actin arrays in the adf4 mutant were unresponsive to a bacterial MAMP, elf26, but responded normally to the fungal MAMP, chitin. Together, our data provide strong genetic and cytological evidence for the inhibition of ADF activity regulating actin remodeling during innate immune signaling. This work is the first to directly link an ADF/cofilin to the cytoskeletal rearrangements elicited directly after pathogen perception in plant or mammalian cells.

Fluorescent labelling of the actin cytoskeleton in plants using a cameloid antibody

BACKGROUND

Certain members of the Camelidae family produce a special type of antibody with only one heavy chain. The antigen binding domains are the smallest functional fragments of these heavy-chain only antibodies and as a consequence have been termed nanobodies. Discovery of these nanobodies has allowed the development of a number of therapeutic proteins and tools. In this study a class of nanobodies fused to fluorescent proteins (chromobodies), and therefore allowing antigen-binding and visualisation by fluorescence, have been used. Such chromobodies can be expressed in living cells and used as genetically encoded immunocytochemical markers.

RESULTS

Here a modified version of the commercially available Actin-Chromobody® as a novel tool for visualising actin dynamics in tobacco leaf cells was tested. The actin-chromobody binds to actin in a specific manner. Treatment with latrunculin B, a drug which disrupts the actin cytoskeleton through inhibition of polymerisation results in loss of fluorescence after less than 30 min but this can be rapidly restored by washing out latrunculin B and thereby allowing the actin filaments to repolymerise. To test the effect of the actin-chromobody on actin dynamics and compare it to one of the conventional labelling probes, Lifeact, the effect of both probes on Golgi movement was studied as the motility of Golgi bodies is largely dependent on the actin cytoskeleton. With the actin-chromobody expressed in cells, Golgi body movement was slowed down but the manner of movement rather than speed was affected less than with Lifeact.

CONCLUSIONS

The actin-chromobody technique presented in this study provides a novel option for in vivo labelling of the actin cytoskeleton in comparison to conventionally used probes that are based on actin binding proteins. The actin-chromobody is particularly beneficial to study actin dynamics in plant cells as it does label actin without impairing dynamic movement and polymerisation of the actin filaments.