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Statoliths motions in gravity‐perceiving plant cells: does actomyosin counteract gravity?
Author(s) -
Volkmann Dieter,
Baluška František,
Lichtscheidl Irene,
DrissEcole Dominique,
Perbal Gérald
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.13.9001.s143
Subject(s) - high gravity , physics , biophysics , geodesy , astrobiology , geology , chemistry , biology , food science , fermentation
ABSTRACT Statocytes from plant root caps are characterized by a polar arrangement of cell organelles and sedimented statoliths. Cortical microtubules and actin microfilaments contribute to development and maintenance of this polarity, whereas the lack of endoplasmic microtubules and prominent bundles of actin microfilaments probably facilitates sedimentation of statoliths. High‐resolution video microscopy shows permanent motion of statoliths even when sedimented. After immunofluorescence microscopy using antibodies against actin and myosin II the most prominent labeling was observed at and around sedimented statoliths. Experiments under microgravity have demonstrated that the positioning of statoliths depends on the external gravitational force and on internal forces, probably exerted by the actomyosin complex, and that transformation of the gravistimulus evidently occurs in close vicinity to the statoliths. These results suggest that graviperception occurs dynamically within the cytoplasm via small‐distance sedimentation rather than statically at the lowermost site of sedimentation. It is hypothesized that root cap cells are comparing randomized motions with oriented motions of statoliths and thereby perceiving gravity.—Volkmann, D., Baluška, F., Lichtscheidl, I., Driss‐Ecole, D., Perbal, G. Statoliths motions in gravity‐perceiving plant cells: does actomyosin counteract gravity? FASEB J. 13 (Suppl.), S143–S147 (1999)