Summary
Previous videomicroscopy ofChara rhizoids during parabolic flights of rockets showed that the weightless statoliths moved basipetally. A hypothesis was offered that the removal of gravity force disturbed the initial balance between this force and the basipetally acting forces generated in a dynamic interaction of statoliths with microfilaments (MFs). The prediction of this hypothesis that the statoliths would not be displaced basipetally during the microgravity phase (MG-phase) after disorganizing the MFs was tested by videomicroscopy of a rhizoid treated with cytochalasin D (CD) immediately before the flight. The prediction was fully supported by the flight experiment. Additionally, by chemical fixation of many rhizoids at the end of the MG-phase it was shown that all rhizoids treated with CD before the flight had statoliths at the same location, i.e., sedimented on the apical cell wall, while all untreated rhizoids had statoliths considerably displaced basipetally from their normal position. Thus, a dynamical interaction involving shearing forces between MFs and statoliths appears highly probable.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
Abbreviations
- CD:
-
cytochalasin D
- g:
-
gravitational acceleration
- MF:
-
microfilament
- MG-phase:
-
microgravity phase
- TEXUS:
-
technological experiments under reduced gravity
References
Buchen B, Hejnowicz Z, Braun M, Sievers A (1991) Cytoplasmic Streaming inChara rhizoids. Studies in a reduced gravitational field during parabolic flights of rockets. Protoplasma 165: 121–126
Ding B, Turgeon R, Parthasarathy MV (1991) Microfilament organization and distribution in freeze-substituted tobacco plant tissues. Protoplasma 165: 96–105
Feynman RP, Leighton RB, Sands ML (1963) The Feynman lectures on physics, vol 2. Addison-Wesley, Reading, MA
Hejnowicz Z, Sievers A (1981) Regulation of the position of statoliths inChara rhizoids. Protoplasma 108: 117–137
Lichtscheidl IK, Lancelle SA, Hepler PK (1990) Actin-endoplasmic reticulum complexes inDrosera, Their structural relationship with the plasmalemma, nucleus, and organelles in cells prepared by high pressure freezing. Protoplasma 155: 116–126
Niggli V, Burger MM (1987) Interaction of the cytoskeleton with the plasma membrane. J Membrane Biol 100: 97–121
Ohmori H, Toyama S, Toyama S (1992) Direct proof that the primary site of action of cytochalasin on cell motility processes is actin. J Cell Biol 116: 933–941
Sievers A (1991) Gravity sensing mechanisms in plant cells. In: Halstead TW, Todd P, Powers JV (eds) Gravity and the cell. American Society for Gravitational and Space Biology, Washington, DC, pp 43–50 (ASGSB Bulletin, vol 4)
—, Volkmann D (1979) Gravitropism in single cells. In: Haupt W, Feinleib ME (eds), Physiology of movements. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York, pp 567–572 [Pirson A, Zimmermann MH (eds) Encyclopedia of plant physiology, NS, vol 7]
—, Kruse S, Kuo-Huang L-L, Wendt M (1989) Statoliths and microfilaments in plant cells. Planta 179: 275–278
—, Buchen B, Volkmann D, Hejnowicz Z (1991 a) Role of the cytoskeleton in gravity perception. In: Lloyd CW (ed) The cytoskeletal basis of plant growth and form. Academic Press, London, pp 169–182
—, Kramer-Fischer M, Braun M, Buchen B (1991 b) The polar organization of the growingChara rhizoid and the transport of statoliths are actin-dependent. Bot Acta 104: 103–109
Volkmann D, Buchen B, Hejnowicz Z, Tewinkel M, Sievers A (1991) Oriented movement of statoliths studied in a reduced gravitational field during parabolic flights of rockets. Planta 185: 153–161
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Dedicated to Hilton H. Mollenhauer on the occasion of his retirement
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Buchen, B., Braun, M., Hejnowicz, Z. et al. Statoliths pull on microfilaments. Protoplasma 172, 38–42 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01403719
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01403719