Analysis of a Mutant that Has Defect in Endoplasmic Reticulum Streaming

Abstract

Plant cells exhibit the dynamic intracellular motility involving rapid organelle trafficking and continuous streaming of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). To elucidate the molecular mechanism underlying the ER streaming, we analyze Arabidopsis myosin XI mutants. We have demonstrated that the ER dynamics was driven primarily by the ER-associated myosin XI-K, a member of a plant-specific myosin class XI. Furthermore, we have shown that the myosin XI deficiency affected organization of the ER network and orientation of the actin filament bundles¹. In this study, we report a novel mutant, in which the ER streaming was effectively suppressed. The aberrant ER aggregates were formed in the mutant cells. We found that the responsible protein was localized on the ER. We will show and discuss about the function of this protein in the ER dynamics.
¹ Ueda et al. (2010) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. 107, 6894-6899.