Abstract
Dynamin and dynamin-related proteins are large GTPases that tubulate and pinch off membranes. In eukaryotes, each member of the dynamin-family is involved in various intra-cellular events, e.g. vesicular transport, division of organelles, cytokinesis, and pathogen resistance. The Arabidopsis genome has 16 genes encoding dynamin-related proteins (DRPs), and they are classified into 6 groups (DRP1-6). In this study, we analyzed the sub-cellular localizations and functions of two DRPs, DRP2 and DRP3. DRP3 was previously reported to be involved in fission of mitochondria and peroxisomes. In this presentation, we will show movies of mitochondrial fission with GFP-DRP3 in living cells. We also show the sub-cellular localization of DRP2. The structure of DRP2 has high similarity to authentic dynamin, which is related to endocytosis in animal cells. Unexpectedly, DRP2 was strongly localized around the phragmoplast or the edges of the forming cell plate.
