Plant cells house highly dynamic cytoskeletal networks of microtubules and actin microfilaments. They constantly undergo remodeling to fulfill their roles in supporting cell division, enlargement, and differentiation. Following early studies on structural aspects of the networks, recent breakthroughs have connected them with more and more intracellular events essential for plant growth and development. Advanced technologies in cell biology (live-cell imaging in particular), molecular genetics, genomics, and proteomics have revolutionized this field of study. Stories summarized in this book may inspire enthusiastic scientists to pursue new directions toward understanding functions of the plant cytoskeleton. The Plant Cytoskeleton is divided into three sections: 1) Molecular Basis of the Plant Cytoskeleton; 2) Cytoskeletal Reorganization in Plant Cell Division; and 3) The Cytoskeleton in Plant Growth and Development. This book is aimed at serving as a resource for anyone who wishes to learn about the plant cytoskeleton beyond ordinary textbooks. Bo Liu is professor in the Department of Plant Biology at the University of California in Davis, California. He received his B.S. degree in cell biology and genetics and M.S. degree in cell biology from Peking University in Beijing, China, and Ph.D. degree in botany from the University of Georgia in Athens, Georgia. Research in his laboratory is focused on studying the cytoskeletal basis of intracellular motility in flowering plants and filamentous fungi.
Advances in Plant Biology
Series Editor J. Harada, Davis, California, USA
For other titles published in this series, go to www.springer.com/series/8047
Bo Liu Editor
The Plant Cytoskeleton
Editor Bo Liu Department of Plant Biology University of California 1 Shields Avenue Davis, CA 95616, USA
[email protected]
ISBN 978-1-4419-0986-2 e-ISBN 978-1-4419-0987-9 DOI 10.1007/978-1-4419-0987-9 Springer New York Dordrecht Heidelberg London © Springer Science+Business Media, LLC 2011 All rights reserved. This work may not be translated or copied in whole or in part without the written permission of the publisher (Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, 233 Spring Street, New York, NY 10013, USA), except for brief excerpts in connection with reviews or scholarly analysis. Use in connection with any form of information storage and retrieval, electronic adaptation, computer software, or by similar or dissimilar methodology now known or hereafter developed is forbidden. The use in this publication of trade names, trademarks, service marks, and similar terms, even if they are not identified as such, is not to be taken as an expression of opinion as to whether or not they are subject to proprietary rights. Printed on acid-free paper Springer is part of Springer Science+Business Media (www.springer.com)
Preface
This book is blessed with 14 wonderful chapters aimed at summarizing in part the current knowledge on the structure and function of plant microtubules and actin filaments. Since the initial discovery of microtubules in plant cells in 1963 and the visualization of green algal actin filaments in 1974, their dynamic behaviors and their roles in specific cellular functions have been embraced one after another. While plant cell biologists continue to be excited by the beautiful cytoskeletal network in plant cells, their understanding of the function behind the network has been greatly advanced by discoveries of novel proteins that interact with the network. Recent progress has benefited from technological advances in areas like live cell imaging, genetic screening, and the tools of genomics and proteomics. In this book, the first six chapters visit