Reorganization of cortical actin microfilaments and microtubules at preprophase and mitosis in wheat root‐tip cells: A double label immunofluorescence study

Abstract

AbstractFollowing our recent description [McCurdy et al.: Protoplasma. 147:204–206, 1988] of arrays of transverse cortical microfilaments (MFs) in preprophase roottip cells of wheat (Triticum aestivum L. cv. Kite), we have performed double label immunofluorescence microscopy to correlate the formation of these arrays with the known rearrangement of cortical microtubules (MTs) that occurs during preprophase. At early preprophase, indicated by a broad (i.e., young) preprophase band (PPB) of MTs, actin MFs are transverse only in the central region of the cell cortex. By late preprophase, however, cells that possess a mature (i.e., narrow) PPB of MTs have arrays of transverse MFs that occupy the entire cortical surface of the cell. Thus, apart from the PPB zone, the transverse MFs in these arrays do not colocalize with transverse cortical MTs. Depolymerization of MTs using the herbicide oryzalin does not effect the arrays of cortical MFs; however, experiments using cytochalasin B in combination with oryzalin indicate that cellular MTs are necessary for the formation of the arrays of transverse cortical MFs. The arrays of cortical MFs disintegrate during prophase into short fragments of random, filamentous actin. This situation persists until the completion of cytokinesis. The absence of MFs during mitosis in densely‐cytoplasmic meristematic cells of wheat root tips indicates that filamentous actin may not have a universal function in plant cell division. The possible function of the arrays of cortical MFs in preprophase cells is discussed.