H+- and Na+- elicited rapid changes of the microtubule cytoskeleton in the biflagellated green alga Chlamydomonas. Academic Article uri icon

abstract

  • Although microtubules are known for dynamic instability, the dynamicity is considered to be tightly controlled to support a variety of cellular processes. Yet diverse evidence suggests that this is not applicable to Chlamydomonas, a biflagellate fresh water green alga, but intense autofluorescence from photosynthesis pigments has hindered the investigation. By expressing a bright fluorescent reporter protein at the endogenous level, we demonstrate in real time discreet sweeping changes in algal microtubules elicited by rises of intracellular H+ and Na+. These results from this model organism with characteristics of animal and plant cells provide novel explanations regarding how pH may drive cellular processes; how plants may respond to, and perhaps sense stresses; and how organisms with a similar sensitive cytoskeleton may be susceptible to environmental changes.

published proceedings

  • Elife

author list (cited authors)

  • Liu, Y. i., Visetsouk, M., Mynlieff, M., Qin, H., Lechtreck, K. F., & Yang, P.

citation count

  • 12

complete list of authors

  • Liu, Yi||Visetsouk, Mike||Mynlieff, Michelle||Qin, Hongmin||Lechtreck, Karl F||Yang, Pinfen

publication date

  • September 2017

publisher

published in