TY  - GEN
AV  - public
KW  - Cell biology 
KW  -  fission yeast 
KW  -  Schizosaccharomyces pombe 
KW  -  microtubules 
KW  -  morphogenesis 
KW  -  cell shape 
KW  -  cytoskeleton
A1  - Legouras, Ioannis
N2  - Morphogenesis is a complex process which in unicellular organisms involves mainly polarized cell growth and cell division. Microtubules (MTs) are a key player in spatial regulation of cytokinesis and polarization. The fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe is a convenient model organism for morphogenesis studies because of its simple cylindrical shape and its polarized growth at the cell tips. MT plus ends contact and shrink from the cell tips and contribute to polarity regulation. There is a strong crosstalk between MTs, actin and cell shape.  Here we perturb the cell shape and we investigate the effects on MTs, nuclear position and polarization machinery. We use the MT-depolymerizing drug thiabendazole (TBZ) to depolymerize the interphase microtubules. MT depolymerization causes formation of arms around the middle of the cell perpendicular to the long axis of the cell. The organization of the MT cytoskeleton exhibits heterogeneity in these T-shaped cells and depends on the cell geometry. We found that growth zones that were formed in the absence of microtubules, have different properties compared to the old ends of the cell and they exhibit an inherent instability, as measured by their growth potential. This growth potential in the arm is proportional to the initial size and to the number of MTs that reach the arm cortex. These effects are Tea1p-Tea4p-Mod5p dependent but Bud6p independent. These studies provide a demonstration of how MTs influence the growth potential at cell ends in fission yeast and begin to suggest a new model of growth zone instability. MT interactions with the cortex are important not only for establishment but also for maintenance of growth zones. These findings highlight a previously hidden role of MTs responsible for cell morphogenesis.
UR  - https://archiv.ub.uni-heidelberg.de/volltextserver/11230/
ID  - heidok11230
TI  - Growth zone instability in T-shaped Schizosaccharomyces pombe cells
Y1  - 2010///
ER  -