Abstract
TMBP200 is a homologue of Arabidopsis MOR1/GEM1 in tobacco BY-2 cells. To know functional domains of the polypeptide and a role of TMBP200 in plant cell division, we are attempting to examine subcellular localization and the effects of overexpression of truncated polypeptides of TMBP200 in BY-2 cells. Here, we have established cell lines that express full-length GFP-TMBP200 fusion protein using an inducible expression system. In interphase cells, the GFP fluorescence was observed throughout the cytoplasm and in some cells it was concentrated along cortical microtubule like arrays. In mitotic cells, the GFP fluorescence was localized to the spindle and the phragmoplast. The induced expression of GFP-TMBP200 caused an appearance of multinucleate cells. Currently, we are analyzing mechanisms of multinucleation by expression of GFP-TMBP200.
