Note to users. If you're seeing this message, it means that your browser cannot find this page's style/presentation instructions -- or possibly that you are using a browser that does not support current Web standards. Find out more about why this message is appearing, and what you can do to make your experience of our site the best it can be.
Subscribe

Logo for

21 (6): 1280-1288

Copyright © 2002 by the European Molecular Biology Organization.

The cell morphogenesis gene ANGUSTIFOLIA encodes a CtBP/BARS-like protein and is involved in the control of the microtubule cytoskeleton

U. Folkers, V. Kirik1, U. Schöbinger, S. Falk1, S. Krishnakumar2, M.A. Pollock2, D.G. Oppenheimer2, I. Day3, A.R. Reddy3, G. Jürgens, and M. Hülskamp1,4

ZMBP, Entwicklungsgenetik, Universität Tübingen, Auf der Morgenstelle 1, D-72076 Tübingen,
1 University of Köln, Botanical Institute III, Gyrhofstrasse 15, D-50931 Köln, Germany,
2 Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alabama, 301 Biology, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487-0344 and
3 Department of Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80526, USA
4 Corresponding author e-mail: martin.huelskamp{at}uni-koeln.de

Abstract: The ANGUSTIFOLIA (AN) gene is required for leaf hair (trichome) branching and is also involved in polarized expansion underlying organ shape. Here we show that the AN gene encodes a C-terminal binding proteins/brefeldin A ADP-ribosylated substrates (CtBP/BARS) related protein. AN is expressed at low levels in all organs and the AN protein is localized in the cytoplasm. In an mutant trichomes, the organization of the actin cytoskeleton is normal but the distribution of microtubules is aberrant. A role of AN in the control of the microtubule cytoskeleton is further supported by the finding that AN genetically and physically interacts with ZWICHEL, a kinesin motor molecule involved in trichome branching. Our data suggest that CtBP/BARS-like protein function in plants is directly associated with the microtubule cytoskeleton.

Key Words: Keywords: Angustifolia/Arabidopsis/cell morphogenesis/microtubules/trichomes

To Advertise     Find Products

Science Signaling. ISSN 1937-9145 (online), 1945-0877 (print). Pre-2008: Science's STKE. ISSN 1525-8882