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Distribution of microtubules during the growth of tobacco pollen tubes
Author(s) -
Casino Cecilia,
Li YiQin,
Moscatelli Alessandra,
Scali Monica,
Tiezzi Antonio,
Cresti Mauro
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
biology of the cell
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.543
H-Index - 85
eISSN - 1768-322X
pISSN - 0248-4900
DOI - 10.1111/j.1768-322x.1993.tb00902.x
Subject(s) - microtubule , biology , tubulin , cytoplasm , pollen tube , immunofluorescence , nicotiana tabacum , microbiology and biotechnology , confocal , fluorescence microscope , confocal microscopy , confocal laser scanning microscopy , distribution (mathematics) , botany , biophysics , pollen , fluorescence , biochemistry , antibody , optics , genetics , physics , pollination , mathematical analysis , mathematics , gene
Summary— The distribution of microtubules was investigated in Nicotiana tabacum pollen tubes at different stages of tube growth by immunofluorescence microscopy. Using specific antibodies, the presence of microtubules consisting of different tubulin isoforms was tested. α‐, β‐ and tyrosinated α‐tubulin were present within the tube, whereas the acetylated form was lacking. The presence of tubulin subunits in pollen tube extracts was also investigated by immunoblotting analyses. The use of a confocal laser scanning microscope integrated with computer‐assisted imaging, allowed a detailed visualization of the microtubule distribution and organization. Cytoplasmic microtubules organized as short bundles with various orientations were detected at the apex of long tubes.