Abstract
We found that cortical array of microtubules in tobacco BY-2 cells attached to a coverslip was disorganized from transverse to random by centrifugation, and the disorganized microtubules were recovered from random to transverse. The disorganization of microtubules was not observed without attachment to the coverslip and was inhibited in the presence of gadolinium, suggesting that mechano-sensitive ion channel is involved in the disorganization of microtubules. Taxol inhibited the disorganization but not recovery. This suggests that the recovery might be induced by a mechanism other than microtubule-dynamics. The system developed in the present study will be useful to study the mechanism of microtubule organization in plant cells. We will also report on the involvement of phosphorylation, dephosphorylation and actin in the regulation of cortical microtubule organization.
