Abstract
Previously, we characterized an Arabidopsis dynamin-like protein, ADL2b, that functions in the division of plant mitochondria. The Arabidopsis genome has another highly homologous gene, ADL2a, which has been reported to localize in chloroplasts. To confirm the localizations of ADL2a and ADL2b, we constructed GFP fusion proteins with the N-terminal portions of these proteins. However, in our experiment, no signals were detected in chloroplasts. When the full length of ADL2a was attached to GFP, a strong GFP signal was localized at the tips and at the constriction sites of mitochondria. This localization pattern was probably the same as that of ADL2b. We confirmed that ADL2a and ADL2b had the same localization by using GFP and DsRed (RFP). Furthermore, overexpression of ADL2a that had a point mutation in its GTPase domain caused mitochondrial elongation. Consequently, we suggest that not only ADL2b but also ADL2a is involved in the division of plant mitochondria.
