Self-organization of ROP GTPases and cortical microtubules in plant cell morphogenesis

2015 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 25440128
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Plant molecular biology/Plant physiology
• Research Institution: National Institute of Genetics (2014-2015); The University of Tokyo (2013)
• Principal Investigator: Oda Yoshihisa 国立遺伝学研究所, 新分野創造センター, 准教授 (30583257)
• Project Period (FY): 2013-04-01 – 2016-03-31
• Keywords: 表層微小管 / 木部道管分化 / 二次細胞壁 / 低分子量GTPase

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Plant development largely depends on well-organized cell walls which determines the shape of each plant cell. I focused on how plant cortical microtubules and ROP GTPases spatially interact each other to determine the deposition pattern of cell walls in xylem vessels cells. I revealed that ROP GTPases mutually inhibit cortical microtubules through MIDD1-Kinesin-13A complex and possibly through BDR1, a novel protein of unknown function. I also found that VETH1 may mediate membrane trafficking of cell wall components along cortical microtubules. These findings may contribute to our further understanding of plant and plant cell morphogenesis.

Free Research Field

植物細胞生物学