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Fertilization-induced changes in the microtubular architecture of the maize egg cell and zygote—an immunocytochemical approach adapted to single cells

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Abstract

By using single cell micromanipulation techniques, we developed an immunocytochemical procedure to examine subcellular protein localization in isolated and cultured cells. Localization of microtubules was examined in isolated single egg cells and developing zygotes of maize with anti-α-tubulin antibodies. In egg cells, a few cortical microtubules were detected but well organized microtubules were rarely observed. In contrast, distinct cortical microtubules and strands of cytoplasmic microtubules radiating from the nucleus to the cell periphery were observed in developing zygotes. Solely cortical microtubules were observed in zygotes up to 7 h after in vitro fertilization. After this time, radiating microtubules additionally appeared, and persisted during zygote development. These results indicate early and pronounced fertilization-induced changes in microtubular organization in the fertilized egg cell of maize.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Marlis Nissen for excellent technical help in ovule dissection, Drs. Margret Sauter and Tanja Marwedel for helpful discussions and suggestions, and Dr. Daniel Matton for critical reading of the manuscript. This work was supported by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of Japan to Y.H. and by AMP II sources, University of Hamburg, Germany.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Field Science Center for Northern Biosphere, Hokkaido University, Kita 11, Nishi 10, Kita-Ku, 060–0811, Sapporo , Japan

    Yoichiro Hoshino

  2. Biozentrum Klein Flottbek und Botanischer Garten, Entwicklungsbiologie und Biotechnologie, Universität Hamburg, Ohnhorststrasse 18, 22609 , Hamburg, Germany

    Yoichiro Hoshino, Stefan Scholten, Petra von Wiegen, Horst Lörz & Erhard Kranz

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  1. Yoichiro Hoshino
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  2. Stefan Scholten
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  3. Petra von Wiegen
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  4. Horst Lörz
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  5. Erhard Kranz
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Correspondence to Erhard Kranz.

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Hoshino, Y., Scholten, S., von Wiegen, P. et al. Fertilization-induced changes in the microtubular architecture of the maize egg cell and zygote—an immunocytochemical approach adapted to single cells. Sex Plant Reprod 17, 89–95 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00497-004-0221-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00497-004-0221-0

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