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The Actin Cytoskeleton in Pollen Tubes; Actin and Actin Binding Proteins

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Book cover The Pollen Tube

Part of the book series: Plant Cell Monographs ((CELLMONO,volume 3))

Abstract

Actin cytoskeleton is well known to be a key element for the germination and the elongation of pollen tubes. It has been appreciated that the cytoplasmic streaming for conveying secretory vesicles to the tube apex is a primary function of the actin cytoskeleton in pollen tubes. Recently growing evidence has revealed that highly dynamic populations of actin cytoskeleton are present in apical and subapical regions of tubes and are involved intimately in polar elongation of tubes. Tip-focused Ca 2+-gradient and tip-localized small GTPases (Rop/Rac) are believed to control such actin dynamics through the various kinds of actin binding proteins (ABPs). In the present chapter, we focus on the organization of actin in elongating pollen tubes and characterization of ABPs identified from pollen. We further discuss their roles, with special emphasis on recently identified proteins of the gelsolin family, regulating actin dynamics and organizing actin architecture in pollen tubes.

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  1. Department of Life Science, Graduate School of Life Science, University of Hyogo, Harima Science Park City, 678-1297, Hyogo, Japan

    Etsuo Yokota & Teruo Shimmen

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  1. Etsuo Yokota
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  2. Teruo Shimmen
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Correspondence to Etsuo Yokota .

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Rui Malhó

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Yokota, E., Shimmen, T. The Actin Cytoskeleton in Pollen Tubes; Actin and Actin Binding Proteins. In: Malhó, R. (eds) The Pollen Tube. Plant Cell Monographs, vol 3. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/7089_047

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