Abstract
Mitosis and cytoplasmic microtubule (MT) dynamics were observed for the first time in Vaucheria terrestris sensu Goetz. Mitosis could occasionally be seen in part of the cylindrical coenocytic cell. The frequency of encountering cells with dividing nuclei was highest (ca 12%) 4 h after the onset of light in 12 h light/12 h dark regimes; it decreased thereafter and approached zero during the dark period. From the anterior end of every interphase nucleus a unique, long MT bundle extended. Differential-interference optics reveals that there is a filamentous structure in front of the moving nucleus. In prophase, the interphase bundle disappeared and shorter MT bundles emanated from both ends of the nucleus. In metaphase, the cytoplasmic MTs completely disappeared, probably being recycled to spindles. Continuous MTs elongated in anaphase and developed into an interzonal spindle in telophase; this elongated up to as much as 10 μm. The daughter nuclei were pushed away from each other by the interzonal spindle. Mitosis started synchronously in a relatively narrow region, and the mitotic stage propagated as a mitotic wave to adjacent regions, most frequently from tip to base. The role of the mitotic wave in tip growth and morphogenesis of a coenocytic cell is discussed.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Aruga H, Motomura T, Ichimura T (1996) Immunofluorescence study of mitosis and cytokinesis in Acrosiphonia duriuscula (Acrosiphoniales, Chlorophyta). Phycol Res 44:203–213
Brown RC, Lommon B, Nguyen H (2002) The microtubule cycle during successive mitotic waves in the syncytial female gametophyte of ginkgo. J Plant Res 115:491–494
Chytilova E, Macas J, Sliwinska E, Rafelski SM, Lambert GM, Galbraith DW (2000) Nuclear dynamics in Arabidopsis thaliana. Mol Biol Cell 11:2733–2741
Couot-Gastelier J (1978) Etude quelques modalités de la croissance des bourgeons axillaries de la fève Vicia faba L. liberés de la contrainte apicale. Z Pflanzenphysiol 89:189–206
Goff LJ, Coleman AW (1987) The solution to the cytological paradox of isomorphy. J Cell Biol 104:739–748
Hudson PR, Waaland JR (1974) Ultrastructure of mitosis and cytokinesis in the multinucleate green alga Acrosiphonia. J Cell Biol 62:279–294
Hunt T (1991) Cyclins and their partners: from a simple idea to complicated reality. Semin Cell Biol 2:213–222
Itagaki T, Ogawa S (1994) Mitosis in coenocytic green alga Boergesenia forbesii (Harvey) Feldmann (Siphonocladales, Ulvophyceae). J Plant Res 107:9–15
Kataoka H (1975a) Phototropism of Vaucheria geminata. I. The action spectrum. Plant Cell Physiol 16:427–437
Kataoka H (1975b) Phototropism of Vaucheria geminata. II. The mechanism of bending and branching. Plant Cell Physiol 16:439–448
Kataoka H (1981) Expansion of Vaucheria cell apex caused by blue or red light. Plant Cell Physiol 22:583–595
Kataoka H (1987) The light-growth response of Vaucheria. A conditio sine qua non of the phototropic response? Plant Cell Physiol 28:61–71
Laufs P, Grandjean O, Jonal C, Kieu K, Traas J (1998) Cellular parameters of the shoot apical meristem in Arabidopsis. Plant Cell 10:1375–1389
Marchant HJ, Picket-Heaps JD (1970) Ultrastructure and differentiation of Hydrodictyon reticulatum. I. Mitosis in the coenobium. Aust J Biol Sci 23:1173–1186
McDonald KL, Pickett-Heaps JD (1976) Ultrastructure and differentiation in Cladophora glomerata. I. Cell division. Am J Bot 63:592–601
McNaughton EE, Goff LJ (1990) The role of microtubules in establishing nuclear spatial patterns in multinucleate green algae. Protoplasma 157:19–37
Motomura T (1996) Cell cycle analysis in a multinucleate green alga, Boergesenia forbesii (Siphonocladales, chlorophyta). Phycol Res 44:11–17
Nurse P (1990) Universal control mechanism regulating onset of M-phase. Nature 344:503–508
Ott DW (1992) The role of the cytoskeleton in organelle translocation in Vaucheria longicaulis. In: Menzel D (ed) The cytoskeleton of the algae. CRC, Boca Raton, pp 256–272
Ott DW, Brown RM Jr (1972) Light- and electron microscopical observations on mitosis in Vaucheria litorea Hofman ex C. Agardth. Br Phycol J 7:361–374
Staves MP, La Claire II JW (1985) Nuclear synchrony in Valonia macrophysa (Chlorophyta): light microscopy and flow cytometry. J Phycol 21:68–71
Takahashi F, Hishinuma T, Kataoka H (2001) Blue light-induced branching in Vaucheria. Requirement of nuclear accumulation in the irradiated region. Plant Cell Physiol 42:274–285
Wada M (1998) Branch formation induced by microbeam irradiation of Adiantum protonemata. J Plant Res 111:587-590
Acknowledgements
This study was partly supported by a Grant-in Aid for Scientific Research (number 08304045) from the Ministry of Education, Science, Sports and Culture, Japan and a grant from Takeda Science Foundation (to HK,1997). We are grateful to the late Dr. E. Kamitsubo for the use of his personal Axioskop. We wish to thank Dr. Steen Christensen (NIBB) for helpful advice.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
This paper is dedicated to the memory of Dr. Eiji Kamitsubo who passed away on 25 April 2003.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Takahashi, F., Yamaguchi, K., Hishinuma, T. et al. Mitosis and mitotic wave propagation in the coenocytic alga, Vaucheria terrestris sensu Goetz. J Plant Res 116, 381–387 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10265-003-0117-3
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10265-003-0117-3