Understanding Actomyosin-Dependent Networking and the Role of RHD3 in the Endoplasmic Reticulum
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Date
2013-09-29
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Abstract
The endoplasmic reticulum operates in a larger reticular network via membrane fusion of ER tubules. Root Hair Defective 3 (RHD3) is a membrane-bound GTPase, similar to mammalian atlastin GTPases, which may be involved in ER fusion. It is known that an actomyosin system plays a role in ER dynamics, including streaming, networking and tubule activity. Past research has indicated that actin and myosin are contributing factors, and it was hypothesized that in the absence of both, ER tubular activity should diminish entirely. However, in previous trials, tubule growth still persisted even in the absence of myosin and actin. It is possible that RHD3 may act as a motor for ER tubular activity or microtubules could the cause of this continual growth of ER tubules. To observe ER tubular activity in the absence of myosin, actin, and microtubules, myosin triple knockout lines of Arabidopsis thaliana were treated with latrunculin B, which is an actin depolymerizer, and oryzalin, which depolymerizes microtubules. In addition, observations of the effects of latrunculin B and oryzalin on the activity of RHD3 mutant tobacco plants can help elucidate the role of RHD3. Furthermore, the treatment with latrunculin B and oryzalin may alter the coherent directionality of ER tubule growth and shrinkage. With this study, more can be understood about ER networking and its specific correlation to mammalian ER activity.
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ER, endoplasmic reticulum, ER streaming, plant biology, tubular network, actomyosin network, actin, myosin, microtubules, latrunculin B, oryzalin, confocal microscopy