Tubulin and actin protein patterns in Scots pine ( Pinus sylvestris ) roots and developing ectomycorrhiza with Suillus bovinus

The role of tubulin and actin in the development of Scots pine ( Pinus sylvestris ) roots and in the formation of the ectomycorrhiza with the basidiomycete Suillus bovinus was studied by immunoblotting of 2D‐gels with anti‐tubulin and anti‐actin antibodies. In the short roots the α‐tubulin pattern was different from that in the other root types due to the more acidic pI of the two α‐tubulins. During the formation of the ectomycorrhiza, two new α‐tubulins were detected in the acidic α‐tubulin cluster. No such variation occurred in the plant β‐tubulin patterns. The fungal tubulins dominated in the ectomycorrhiza, but no changes in tubulin polypeptide patterns from those in the S. bovinus mycelium were observed. Contrary to the tubulins, plant actin dominated in the mycorrhiza. The specific α‐tubulin patterns of uninfected and infected short roots indicate that α‐tubulin is involved in the morphogenesis of Pinus sylvestris short roots. The high level of plant actin at early stage of the mycorrhiza formation suggests a significant role of this protein in the interaction between plant cells and fungal hyphae.