Temporal and spatial in vivo optical analysis of microtubules in Neurospora crassa

Marie Held; Clive Edwards; Dan V. Nicolau

doi:10.1117/12.841328

25 February 2010 Temporal and spatial in vivo optical analysis of microtubules in Neurospora crassa

Marie Held, Clive Edwards, Dan V. Nicolau

Proceedings Volume 7568, Imaging, Manipulation, and Analysis of Biomolecules, Cells, and Tissues VIII; 75680V (2010) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.841328
Event: SPIE BiOS, 2010, San Francisco, California, United States

Abstract

Microtubules are a crucial part of the fungal cytoskeleton and facilitate long-distance vesicle transport to the growing apex that constitutes one of the main driving forces of polarized growth. This study observed the spatial and temporal distribution of microtubules in growing Neurospora crassa hyphae in two and three dimensions. The fungal strain used expressed a normal growth pattern combined with the expression of green fluorescent protein (GFP) along the microtubules enabling their direct study with fluorescence and confocal microscopy. Time-lapse imaging revealed that the microtubules were dynamic, being assembled and disassembled at high rates as well as moving with the cytoplasmic flow. In the apical compartment, the filaments were arranged mostly parallel but not helical to the growth axis and appeared to determine the growth direction in close interaction with the Spitzenkörper. The microtubule distribution in subapical compartments was more random and their motility appeared to be driven by the cytoplasmic flow. However, this flow is affected by hyphal septa that act as partition walls with small connecting pores. Three-dimensional imaging showed that in order to pass through a septum, the filaments had to align parallel to the growth axis. The aim of this study was to attempt to reveal deeper insight into the role of microtubules in fungal growth thus confirming and challenging some suggestions proposed in previous literature.

Citation Download Citation

Marie Held, Clive Edwards, and Dan V. Nicolau "Temporal and spatial in vivo optical analysis of microtubules in Neurospora crassa", Proc. SPIE 7568, Imaging, Manipulation, and Analysis of Biomolecules, Cells, and Tissues VIII, 75680V (25 February 2010); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.841328

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available