Tungsten affects the cortical microtubules of Pisum sativum root cells: experiments on tungsten-molybdenum antagonism

Tungsten (W) is increasingly shown to be toxic to various organisms, including plants. Apart from inactivation of molybdo-enzymes, other potential targets of W toxicity in plants, especially at the cellular level, have not yet been revealed. In the present study, the effect of W on the cortical micr...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Plant biology (Stuttgart, Germany) Germany), 2010-01, Vol.12 (1), p.114-124
Main Authors: Adamakis, I.-D. S., Panteris, E., Eleftheriou, E. P.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Actomyosin
Cnx1 protein
cortical microtubules
Meristem - drug effects
Microscopy, Electron, Transmission
Microscopy, Fluorescence
Microtubules - drug effects
Microtubules - ultrastructure
molybdenum
Molybdenum - pharmacology
Pisum sativum
Pisum sativum - drug effects
Plant Roots - drug effects
Tubulin Modulators - pharmacology
tungsten
Tungsten - pharmacology
Tungsten Compounds - pharmacology
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Summary:Tungsten (W) is increasingly shown to be toxic to various organisms, including plants. Apart from inactivation of molybdo-enzymes, other potential targets of W toxicity in plants, especially at the cellular level, have not yet been revealed. In the present study, the effect of W on the cortical microtubule array of interphase root tip cells was investigated, in combination with the possible antagonism of W for the pathway of molybdenum (Mo). Pisum sativum seedlings were treated with W, Mo or a combination of the two, and cortical microtubules were examined using tubulin immunofluorescnce and TEM. Treatments with anti-microtubule (oryzalin, colchicine and taxol) or anti-actomyosin (cytochalasin D, BDM or ML-7) drugs and W were also performed. W-affected cortical microtubules were low in number, short, not uniformly arranged and were resistant to anti-microtubule drugs. Cells pre-treated with oryzalin or colchicine and then treated with W displayed W-affected microtubules, while cortical microtubules pre-stabilized with taxol were resistant to W. Treatment with Mo and anti-actomyosin drugs prevented W from affecting cortical microtubules. Cortical microtubule recovery after W treatment was faster in Mo solution than in water. The results indicate that cortical microtubules of plant cells are indirectly affected by W, most probably through a mechanism depending on the in vivo antagonism of W for the Mo-binding site of Cnx1 protein.
ISSN:1435-8603
1438-8677
DOI:10.1111/j.1438-8677.2009.00197.x