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Article Addendum

A novel mechanism important for the alignment of microtubules

Raymond Wightman and Simon R. Turner

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Using a live-cell imaging approach to study individual microtubules, we have compared microtubule behavior between net-like and aligned cortical arrays. In contrast to previous studies, a steep angled collision between the growing end of a microtubule and a pre-existing microtubule was found to favor crossover. Frequencies of microtubule crossovers, bundling and catastrophes are similar regardless of whether the cell exhibited a net-like or aligned microtubule array. In the predominantly aligned array of petiole cells, severing occurs at the sites of microtubule crossovers and serves to remove unaligned microtubules and to increase microtubule density. Severing was observed to be rare in net-like arrays. Microtubule severing is carried out by the katanin enzyme. In this addendum, we present new insights into the possible mechanism of crossing over and preliminary data looking at organization of the array in a katanin mutant.

Authors

Raymond Wightman

Faculty of Life Sciences; University of Manchester; Manchester, UK

Simon R. Turner

Faculty of Life Sciences; University of Manchester; Manchester, UK

Purchase article for $19

Subscribe to this journal for $79/year