Characterization of maize microtubule-associated proteins, one of which is immunologically related to tau

Hsp90 binds microtubules and is involved in the reorganization of the microtubular network in angiosperms

Microtubules (MTs) are essential for many processes in plant cells. MT-associated proteins (MAPs) influence MT polymerization dynamics and enable them to perform their functions. The molecular chaperone Hsp90 has been shown to associate with MTs in animal and plant cells. However, the role of Hsp90-MT binding in plants has not yet been investigated. Here, we show that Hsp90 associates with cortical MTs in tobacco cells and decorates MTs in the phragmoplast. Further, we show that tobacco Hsp90_MT binds directly to polymerized MTs in vitro. The inhibition of Hsp90 by geldanamycin (GDA) severely impairs MT re-assembly after cold-induced de-polymerization. Our results indicate that the plant Hsp90 interaction with MTs plays a key role in cellular events, where MT re-organization is needed.

Identification of a novel family of 70 kDa microtubule-associated proteins in Arabidopsis cells

Most plant microtubule-associated proteins (MAPs) have homologues across the phylogenetic spectrum. To find potential plant-specific MAPs that will have evaded bioinformatic searches we devised a low stringency method for isolating proteins from an Arabidopsis cell suspension on endogenous taxol-microtubules. By tryptic peptide mass fingerprinting we identified 55 proteins that were enriched on taxol-microtubules. Amongst a range of known MAPs, such as kinesins, MAP65 isoforms and MOR1, we detected 'unknown' 70 kDa proteins that belong to a family of five closely related Arabidopsis proteins having no known homologues amongst non-plant organisms. To verify that AtMAP70-1 associates with microtubules in vivo, it was expressed as a GFP fusion. This confirmed that the protein decorates all four microtubule arrays in both transiently infected Arabidopsis and stably transformed tobacco BY-2 suspension cells. Microtubule-directed drugs perturbed the localization of AtMAP70-1 but cytochalasin D did not. AtMAP70-1 contains four predicted coiled-coil domains and truncation studies identified a central domain that targets the fusion protein to microtubules in vivo. This study therefore introduces a novel family of plant-specific proteins that interact with microtubules.

Identification and characterization of plasma membrane proteins that bind to microtubules in pollen tubes and generative cells of tobacco

The organization and function of microtubules in plant cells are important in many developmental stages. Connections between microtubules and the endomembrane system of plant cells have been discovered by microscopy, but the molecular characteristics of these relationships are mostly unknown except for a few cases. Using two antibodies raised against microtubule-associated proteins (MAPs) from maize, we have identified two polypeptides that share properties of the MAP family in the pollen tube of Nicotiana tabacum. The two polypeptides (with an apparent Mr of 161 and 90 kDa) bind efficiently to animal and plant microtubules and are found in association with the cellular membranes of the pollen tube, from which they can be solubilized with a zwitterionic detergent. One of these proteins has been purified and shown to promote the assembly of tubulin and, to a lesser extent, the bundling of microtubules. Subcellular fractionation indicated that the two proteins are associated with the plasma membrane compartment. The two proteins are found to co-localize in situ with cortical microtubules in the vegetative cytoplasm of tobacco pollen tubes; co-localization is also evident in the generative cell. According to these data, both the 161 and 90 kDa polypeptides are likely to mediate the interactions between the plasma membrane and microtubules in pollen tubes. In addition, functional data indicate that these MAP-like proteins take part in the process of microtubule assembly and reorganization occurring during cell growth. The evidence that both proteins associate with different cellular compartments also suggests a broad-spectrum role in mediating the dynamic relationships between microtubules and plant cell membranes.

Large-scale identification of tubulin-binding proteins provides insight on subcellular trafficking, metabolic channeling, and signaling in plant cells

Microtubules play an essential role in the growth and development of plants and are known to be involved in regulating many cellular processes ranging from translation to signaling. In this article, we describe the proteomic characterization of Arabidopsis tubulin-binding proteins that were purified using tubulin affinity chromatography. Microtubule co-sedimentation assays indicated that most, if not all, of the proteins in the tubulin-binding protein fraction possessed microtubule-binding activity. Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis of the tubulin-binding protein fraction was performed, and 86 protein spots were excised and analyzed for protein identification. A total of 122 proteins were identified with high confidence using LC-MS/MS. These proteins were grouped into six categories based on their predicted functions: microtubule-associated proteins, translation factors, RNA-binding proteins, signaling proteins, metabolic enzymes, and proteins with other functions. Almost one-half of the proteins identified in this fraction were related to proteins that have previously been reported to interact with microtubules. This study represents the first large-scale proteomic identification of eukaryotic cytoskeleton-binding proteins, and provides insight on subcellular trafficking, metabolic channeling, and signaling in plant cells.

A 75-kDa plant protein isolated by tubulin-affinity chromatography is a peroxisomal matrix enzyme

The function of microtubules in plant cells relies on their interactions with various, largely unidentified, proteins. A 75-kDa polypeptide (p75) was isolated previously by tubulin affinity chromatography of tobacco BY-2 proteins and is further characterized here. We have obtained two peptide sequences of 13 and 8 amino acid residues from the p75, which have 77% and 87% similarity to two putative dTDP-glucose 4,6-dehydratase proteins of 74.9 and 75.3 kDa in Arabidopsis. The proteins contain a peroxisomal matrix targeting signal SKL or AKL near their carboxyl terminus, an epimerase-dehydratase motif, and a region of 321 amino acid residues sharing 41% similarity with a dTDP-glucose 4,6-dehydratase from Aneurinibacillus thermoaerophilus. A monoclonal antibody 4B9 against the tobacco p75 reacted with a 75-kDa polypeptide on immunoblots of tobacco BY-2 and Arabidopsis protein extracts, and in immunofluorescence microscopy it revealed small organelle-like structures in tobacco BY-2 and Arabidopsis root-tip cells. Double labelling with an antibody against the peroxisomal marker enzyme, catalase, showed that the organelles are indeed peroxisomes. The peroxisomes were in closer association with actin filaments than microtubules. This observation supports recent findings that plant peroxisomes move on actin filaments. We propose that the peroxisomal dTDP-glucose 4,6-dehydratases may be involved in plant defence responses to oxidative stress.Key words: actin, antibodies, microtubules.

Microtubule organization in the green kingdom: chaos or self-order?

Plant microtubule arrays differ fundamentally from their animal, fungal and protistan counterparts. These differences largely reflect the requirements of plant composite polymer cell walls and probably also relate to the acquisition of chloroplasts. Plant microtubules are usually dispersed and lack conspicuous organizing centres. The key to understanding this dispersed nature is the identification of proteins that interact with and regulate the spatial and dynamic properties of microtubules. Over the past decade, a number of these proteins have been uncovered, including numerous kinesin-related proteins and a 65 kDa class of structural microtubule-associated proteins that appear to be unique to plants. Mutational analysis has identified MOR1, a probable stabilizer of microtubules that is a homologue of the TOGp-XMAP215 class of high-molecular-weight microtubule-associated proteins, and a katanin p60 subunit homologue implicated in the severing of microtubules. The identification of these two proteins provides new insights into the mechanisms controlling microtubule assembly and dynamics, particularly in the dispersed cortical array found in highly polarized plant cells.

Aluminum-induced rapid changes in the microtubular cytoskeleton of tobacco cell lines

Aluminum (Al) is a major factor that limits plant growth in acid soils. It causes a cessation of root growth and changes in root morphology suggesting a role of the root cytoskeleton as a target of Al-toxicity. Here we report a rapid effect of Al on the microtubular cytoskeleton of the suspension tobacco cell lines BY-2 and VBI-0. Viability studies showed that the cells were more sensitive to Al during exponential phase as compared to stationary cells. During the first hours of exposure, Al induced the formation of additional bundles of cortical microtubules (cMTs), whereas the thickness of the individual bundles decreased. Prolonged exposure resulted in disorientation of cMTs. These changes of cMTs preceded the decrease of cell viability by several hours and were accompanied by an increase in the levels of alpha-tubulin (in its tyrosinated form) and elements of the tubulin-folding chaperone CCT. These findings suggest that the microtubular cytoskeleton is one of the early targets of Al toxicity.

Isolation of cortical MTs from tobacco BY-2 cells

We isolated the cortical microtubules (CMTs) from tobacco BY-2 cells to identify their components. By centrifugation of protoplasts homogenized in the presence of taxol, a MT-stabilizing reagent, in a density gradient of Percoll, we obtained membranous vesicles to which MTs forming a sheet-like bundle were attached. Rhodamine-conjugated Ricinus communis agglutinin I (RCA-I), a lectin that bound to the surface of protoplasts, stained these vesicles, indicating that they were plasma membrane (PM) vesicles that retained CMTs. CMTs were released by solubilization of PM vesicles with Triton X-100. A sheet-like array of CMTs was retained even after solubilization of PM vesicles. Immunoblot analysis of the isolated CMTs demonstrated the presence of tubulin, actin, the 65 kDa microtubule-associated protein (MAP) and a 130 kDa RCA-I binding protein. Purification of the isolated CMTs by the temperature dependent disassembly-reassembly cycling method revealed four polypeptides, 190, 120, 85 and 65 kDa, co-assembling with CMTs.

Microtubule-associated proteins in plants--why we need a MAP

Plants have four main microtubule assemblies. Three are involved in arranging when and where the cell wall is laid down and have no direct homologues in animals. Microtubule-associated proteins are important components of these assemblies, and we are now starting to uncover what these proteins are and how they might work.

CYTOSKELETAL PERSPECTIVES ON ROOT GROWTH AND MORPHOGENESIS

Growth and development of all plant cells and organs relies on a fully functional cytoskeleton comprised principally of microtubules and microfilaments. These two polymeric macromolecules, because of their location within the cell, confer structure upon, and convey information to, the peripheral regions of the cytoplasm where much of cellular growth is controlled and the formation of cellular identity takes place. Other ancillary molecules, such as motor proteins, are also important in assisting the cytoskeleton to participate in this front-line work of cellular development. Roots provide not only a ready source of cells for fundamental analyses of the cytoskeleton, but the formative zone at their apices also provides a locale whereby experimental studies can be made of how the cytoskeleton permits cells to communicate between themselves and to cooperate with growth-regulating information supplied from the apoplasm.

Regulation of cell division and the cytoskeleton by mitogen-activated protein kinases in higher plants

The microtubule-associated protein 2 kinase (MAP2-kinase), now better known as mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), was initially discovered in association with the cytoskeleton, and was later also implicated in cell division. The importance of mitogenic stimulation in plant development roused interest in finding the plant homologues of MAPKs. However, data on plant MAPKs in cell division are rather sparse and fragmentary. Therefore we place the available information on cell cycle control of MAPKs in plants into a broader context. We discuss four aspects of cell division control: cell proliferation and the G1/S-phase transition, G2-phase and mitosis, cytokinesis, and cytoskeletal reorganisation. Future work will reveal to what extent plants use signalling pathways that are similar or different to those of animal or yeast cells in regulating cell divisions.

The 65-kDa carrot microtubule-associated protein forms regularly arranged filamentous cross-bridges between microtubules

In plants, cortical microtubules (MTs) occur in characteristically parallel groups maintained up to one microtubule diameter apart by fine filamentous cross-bridges. However, none of the plant microtubule-associated proteins (MAPs) so far purified accounts for the observed separation between MTs in cells. We previously isolated from carrot cytoskeletons a MAP fraction including 120- and 65-kDa MAPs and have now separated the 65-kDa carrot MAP by sucrose density centrifugation. MAP65 does not induce tubulin polymerization but induces the formation of bundles of parallel MTs in a nucleotide-insensitive manner. The bundling effect is inhibited by porcine MAP2, but, unlike MAP2, MAP65 is heat-labile. In the electron microscope, MAP65 appears as filamentous cross-bridges, maintaining an intermicrotubule spacing of 25-30 nm. Microdensitometer-computer correlation analysis reveals that the cross-bridges are regularly spaced, showing a regular axial spacing that is compatible with a symmetrical helical superlattice for 13 protofilament MTs. Because MAP65 maintains in vitro the inter-MT spacing observed in plants and is shown to decorate cortical MTs, it is proposed that this MAP is important for the organization of the cortical array in vivo.

Tobacco BY-2 cell-free extracts induce the recovery of microtubule nucleating activity of inactivated mammalian centrosomes

The structure and the molecular composition of the microtubule-organizing centers in acentriolar higher plant cells remain unknown. We developed an in vitro complementation assay where tobacco BY-2 extracts can restore the microtubule-nucleating activity of urea-inactivated mammalian centrosomes. Our results provide first evidence that soluble microtubule-nucleating factors are present in the plant cytosolic fraction. The implication for microtubule nucleation in higher plants is discussed.

Tau expression in model adenocarcinomas correlates with docetaxel sensitivity in tumour-bearing mice

Docetaxel is a new taxoid with clinical activity in breast and lung cancer. Using docetaxel-sensitive and -refractory mammary and pancreatic murine tumours, as well as human-derived neoplasms, we investigated if a determinant of docetaxel sensitivity could be found at the level of its mechanism of action. Because microtubules represent the cellular targets of the drug, we studied their heterogeneity in the tumour models to try to explain the differences in drug sensitivity. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis of the expression of microtubular components showed that levels of Mbeta4-tubulin and Tau mRNAs were higher in the murine sensitive neoplasms than in the refractory ones. It was also found that Tau protein levels differed markedly among the tumours. In the human-derived sensitive neoplasm, beta-tubulins and some Tau isoforms were found to be more abundant than in the resistant one. Western blot analysis of MAP2 revealed the presence of several immunoreactive species. Some of these polypeptides were also found in higher amounts in the docetaxel-sensitive tumours. The possible meaning of these correlations is discussed in connection with the regulation of microtubule dynamics.

Estramustine resistance correlates with tau over-expression in human prostatic carcinoma cells

Estramustine (EM) is an anti-microtubule drug used in the treatment of hormone-refractory advanced prostate cancer. Since microtubules are the targets for EM cytotoxicity, we investigated the effects of EM on the microtubule-associated protein tau to determine what role it may play in drug resistance. We have compared tau expression in human prostate cancer cells (DU145) and an EM-resistant derived cell line (E4). Reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction has established that tau is expressed in both cell lines but increased 1.9-fold in E4 compared with DU145 cells. This result was confirmed at the protein level by Western blotting. Tau is a phosphoprotein, most of its reported phosphorylation sites being serine or threonine residues. We have shown, however, that tau is also phosphorylated at tyrosine residues in DU145 cells and that the phosphotyrosine level of tau is significantly increased in E4 cells. Moreover, DU145 cells exposed to short term micromolar drug concentrations enter a phase of microtubule depolymerization, display an increased level of tau phosphorylation and follow a pattern similar to that observed in EM-resistant E4 cells. EM is therefore able to induce a very rapid change in the posttranslational state of tau. Our results show that the acquisition of EM resistance in E4 cells, which is accompanied by changes at the tubulin level, is also associated with important changes in tau expression and phosphorylation.

Functional interactions among cytoskeleton, membranes, and cell wall in the pollen tube of flowering plants

The pollen tube is a cellular system that plays a fundamental role during the process of fertilization in higher plants. Because it is so important, the pollen tube has been subjected to intensive studies with the aim of understanding its biology. The pollen tube represents a fascinating model for studying interactions between the internal cytoskeletal machinery, the membrane system, and the cell wall. These compartments, often studied as independent units, show several molecular interactions and can influence the structure and organization of each other. The way the cell wall is constructed, the dynamics of the endomembrane system, and functions of the cytoskeleton suggest that these compartments are a molecular "continuum," which represents a link between the extracellular environment and the pollen tube cytoplasm. Several experimental approaches have been used to understand how these interactions may translate the pollen-pistil interactions into differential processes of pollen tube growth.

A 60-kDa plant microtubule-associated protein promotes the growth and stabilization of neurotubules in vitro

The search for microtubule-associated proteins (MAPs) in plants is relatively recent. In particular, the "classical MAPs," which stimulate the polymerization and stabilization of microtubules, have only been examined in heterogeneous fractions. As a first step in dissecting the role of individual MAPs, we have chromatographically purified a single 60-kDa protein from a carrot MAP fraction and analyzed its effects on tubulin assembly. MAP60 promoted the formation of long, morphologically regular brain microtubules in vitro, an effect inhibited by preincubation of the MAP with affinity-purified antibodies against this protein. MAP60 also increased the stability of microtubules to dilution and significantly enhanced cold stability to the normally cold-sensitive neurotubules. These in vitro properties are consistent with a role for MAP60 in regulating the turnover/assembly of dynamic plant microtubules in vivo.

Elucidating the mechanism of cortical microtubule reorientation in plant cells

Reorientation of the cortical microtubule array is an essential component of cellular development in plants. However, mechanistic details of this process are unknown. The cortical microtubule array of freshly isolated protoplasts (obtained from Nicotiana tabacum BY-2 suspension culture) is relatively random, but upon culturing the cell wall regenerates and the microtubules begin to reorganize. Because cortical microtubules are highly dynamic, we postulated that their reorganization is accomplished solely by the depolymerization of disordered microtubules, followed by repolymerization into an ordered array. This hypothesis was tested on freshly isolated protoplasts using drugs that alter the dynamic status of microtubules by either hyperstabilizing the polymer (taxol); or preventing the addition of subunits to the microtubules (amiprophosmethyl; APM). Microtubule arrays that were hyperstabilized with 10 microM taxol not only reordered, but did so more quickly than untreated cells. Moreover, protoplasts treated with taxol and 20 microM APM also showed accelerated reorganization. Control experiments, performed in vivo and in vitro, confirmed that subunit addition was hindered by APM. Thus, microtubules appear capable of reorienting as relatively intact units. Sodium azide (1 mM) and sodium cyanide (1 mM) can prevent reorientation, indicating that cellular energy is required for this event but this energy is not used by the actin-myosin system because the microfilament-disrupting drug cytochalasin D (50 microM) did not affect reorientation. These results indicate that cortical microtubule array reorganization is a complex process that can involve polymer movement.

Antibody against phosphorylated proteins (MPM-2) recognizes mitotic microtubules in endosperm cells of higher plant Haemanthus

In diverse cell types, monoclonal antibody MPM-2 recognizes a class of phosphorylated proteins related to microtubule organizing centers and abundant during mitosis. We have used this antibody in an attempt to identify the spatial and temporal localization of putative microtubule organizing centers in endosperm cells of the higher plant Haemanthus. Our results show that MPM-2 recognized epitope is present in interphase cells and enriched in mitotic cells. In interphase the antibody usually stains cytoplasmic granules. During the interphase-prophase transition immunoreactive material appears in the nucleus, at the nuclear envelope, and in association with microtubules. Concomitantly, we observed an increase of immunoreactivity of the cytoplasm. During mitosis the phosphorproteins recognized by MPM-2 are detected in the cytoplasm, in association with microtubules of the spindle, the phragmoplast, and in the newly-formed cell plate. After completion of mitosis, only the cell plate and cytoplasmic granules are MPM-2 positive. Extraction of the cells with Triton X-100 prior to fixation removes staining of the cytoplasm by MPM-2. The detergent resistant immunoreactive material remains associated with surrounding the nucleus microtubules of the prophase spindle, the core of kinetochore fibers, and the phragmoplast. In the phragmoplast, however, segments of microtubules which are distal to the cell plate are depleted of MPM-2. These data demonstrate that microtubule arrays of endosperm cells are phosphorylated during mitosis. Thus, similar to animal cells, interphase and mitotic microtubules of higher plants have different properties. Additionally, the localization of detergent resistant MPM-2 antigen points to the difference in microtubule nucleation/organization between higher plant and animal cells.

Distribution of cytoskeletal proteins (neurofilaments, peripherin and MAP-tau) in the cochlea of the human fetus

We report here an immunohistochemical study of the distribution of intermediate filaments (neurofilament, peripherin) and a microtubule-associated protein, tau, in the human fetal cochlea at 27 weeks of gestation. Neurofilament immunoreactivity (160 and 200 KDa) was localized in afferent and efferent fibers of the cochlear innervation and restricted to a few small spiral ganglion neurons. Peripherin immunoreactivity was specifically distributed in some small ganglion neurons and in their central and peripheral extensions, particularly in fibers reaching the lower part of the outer hair cells. Double immuno-labelling studies with these neurofilaments and peripherin antibodies show that only small neuron cell bodies were stained. Morpholometrical data indicate that immunostained neurons could be related to the Type II neuron population in the spiral ganglion. Tau protein was localized in intraganglionic spiral bundle fibers and in fibers that reach the lower part of hair cells. These observations suggest that neurofilament and peripherin antibodies stain a particular population of human spiral ganglion neurons with Type II characteristics. Moreover, the specificity of peripherin labelling in Type II cells and their processes suggest that peripherin could be used as a probe for the developmental study of this system in the human cochlea. On the other hand, tau antibody appeared as a marker for efferent fibers during development and could give information on the ontogenesis of efferent innervation.

Characterization of a 100-kDa heat-stable microtubule-associated protein from higher plants

In higher-plant cells, the different cell-cycle-dependent microtubule arrays are involved in a wide range of activities including chromosome segregation, cell-plate formation and cellulose microfibril distribution and orientation. A wealth of data, obtained using animal cells, has indicated that the differential stability and function of microtubules during cell-cycle and/or differentiation could be primarily regulated by selective microtubule-associated proteins (MAP). Compared to animal MAP, our knowledge of plant MAP is so far very limited. In this study, we have identified a maize heat-stable protein with apparent molecular mass 100 kDa (P-100) which binds to taxol-stabilized neurotubules and copolymerizes in vitro with purified neural tubulin. Moreover, P-100 cross-reacts with affinity-purified tau antibodies like a maize 83-kDa putative MAP described previously [Vantard, M., Schellenbaum, P., Fellous, A. & Lambert, A. M. (1991) Biochemistry 30, 9334-9340]. Polyclonal antibodies directed against P-100 were obtained and indicated that this protein is found in diverse higher-plant cultured cells suggesting the ubiquitous nature of this protein. P-100 can be phosphorylated in vitro by protein kinases present in a maize cytosol extract. Together, our data suggest that P-100 could be a higher plant MAP.

Identification and preliminary characterization of a 65 kDa higher-plant microtubule-associated protein

Microtubules in plant cells, as in animal cells, are dynamic structures. However, our lack of knowledge about the constituents of microtubules in plant cells has prevented us from understanding the mechanisms that control microtubule dynamics. To characterize some of these constituents, a cytoplasmic extract was prepared from evacuolated protoplasts (miniprotoplasts) of tobacco BY-2 cells, and microtubules were assembled in the presence of taxol and disassembled by cold treatment in the presence of Ca2+ and a high concentration of NaCl. SDS-PAGE analysis of triple-cycled microtubule protein revealed the presence of 120 kDa, 110 kDa and a group of 60–65 kDa polypeptides in addition to tubulin. Since these polypeptides had copolymerized with tubulin, through the three cycles of assembly and disassembly, and they bundle microtubules, we tentatively identified the three polypeptides as microtubule-associated proteins (MAPs). To characterize these factors further, triple-cycled microtubule protein was fractionated by Mono-Q anion-exchange chromatography and the microtubule-bundling activity of each fraction was examined. Fractions having microtubule-bundling activity contained only the 65 kDa MAP, an indication that the 65 kDa MAP is responsible for the bundling of microtubules. Purified 65 kDa MAP formed cross-bridge structures between adjacent microtubules in vitro. Polyclonal antibodies were raised in mice against the 65 kDa MAP. Immunofluorescence microscopy revealed that the 65 kDa MAP colocalized with microtubules in BY-2 cells throughout the cell cycle. Western blotting analysis of extracts from several species of plants suggested that the 65 kDa MAP and/or related peptides are widely distributed in the plant kingdom.

Characterization of the reversible taxol-induced polymerization of plant tubulin into microtubules

Taxol has been reported to induce the polymerization of plant tubulin into microtubules, albeit weakly when compared to that of mammalian tubulin [Morejohn, L.C., & Fosket, D.E. (1984) J. Cell Biol. 99, 141-147], suggesting that taxol, a product of plant secondary metabolism, may interact poorly with plant microtubules. To test this idea in detail, we have investigated critical parameters affecting taxol-dependent microtubule polymerization and stability using tubulins from model cell lines of maize [Zea mays cv. Black Mexican Sweet (BMS)] and tobacco [Nicotiana tabacum cv. Bright Yellow 2 (BY-2)]. When plant tubulin dimer is isolated by using a modified version of the original method [Morejohn, L.C., & Fosket, D.E. (1982) Nature 297, 426-428], most of the tubulin polymerizes at 25 degrees C, with critical dimer concentrations (Cc) of 0.06 mg/mL for BMS tubulin and 0.13 mg/mL for BY-2 tubulin. When taxol-induced assembly is initiated with a 0-25 degrees C temperature jump, 42% of polymer is polymorphic, presumably due to aberrant nucleation events. Taxol-induced assembly at 2 degrees C minimizes the formation of polymorphic structures and is much more rapid than that of purified bovine brain tubulin, indicating a functional difference in the polymerization domains of these diverse tubulins. Temperature ramping during taxol-induced polymerization affords > or = 95% assembly of plant tubulin into polymer consisting of 86% microtubules, which may be completely depolymerized by a combined treatment with low temperature and Ca2+. We report for the first time that plant tubulin may be subjected to numerous cycles of efficient taxol-induced polymerization and cold/Ca(2+)-induced depolymerization with little loss of polymerization competence. Gel filtration chromatography at low temperature may be used to separate taxol from soluble plant tubulin dimer, which retains its characteristic polymerization and herbicide-binding properties. Our results demonstrate that despite its origin from plants, taxol is a potent drug for the reversible polymerization of plant microtubules.

Microtubule-organizing centers in higher plants

Compelling evidence has recently been obtained for the idea that the nuclear surface of higher plant cells has a microtubule-nucleating function under cell cycle dependent control. Whatever the final organization of microtubules, they all seem to originate in the nuclear periphery. The spatial distribution of microtubules is a secondary process involving actin and microtubule-associated proteins, and other morphogenetic controls. How microtubules are nucleated and/or reorganized at the spindle poles during mitosis remains unknown.

Non-motor microtubule-associated proteins

This past year, the structure and function of microtubule-associated proteins (MAPs) have been investigated in studies probing their phosphorylation, patterns of expression, and the function of the microtubule-binding domain. Cellular studies have also contributed new insights into the roles of these proteins in process outgrowth.

Higher plant microtubule-associated proteins: in vitro functional assays

Microtubule-associated proteins (MAPs) can account for the assembly and stabilization of microtubules at low tubulin concentration, for their ability to interact with other microtubules and/or cytoskeletal polymers or organelles and also for regulating microtubule anchoring and bundling properties. The data concerning higher plant MAPs remain limited so far to a few examples. Motor MAPs such as dynein or kinesin remain poorly documented in plants and are not to be discussed here. In this manuscript, the attention is focused on structural MAPs which co-assemble with tubulin during microtubule assembly. Using taxol, we developed an assay where higher plant microtubules were induced to self-assemble in a cytosolic extract of maize cultured cells and could be used as a native matrix for the isolation of putative higher plant MAPs. Seven polypeptides with molecular masses ranging between 60-125 kDa were found in this MAP-enriched fraction. These putative plant MAPs were shown to co-assemble with pig brain tubulin through two cycles of temperature-dependent assembly-disassembly. They were able to initiate and promote MAP-free tubulin assembly under conditions of non-efficient self-assembly and induced bundling of both plant and neural microtubules. One of these polypeptides (83 kDa) was found to be immunologically related to neural tau, suggesting the presence of common epitopes between neural and plant MAPs. Such epitopes may be present at the microtubule-binding domains, as the higher plant MAPs co-assemble with brain tubulin. Plant microtubules exhibit an important in situ bundling activity, as in cortical or pre-prophase band arrays, or during the drastic reorganization of the cytoskeleton during mitosis induction.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)