open access

Vol 44, No 2 (2006)
Original paper
Submitted: 2011-12-19
Published online: 2006-06-30
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Microtubules with different diameter, protofilament number and protofilament spacing in Ornithogalum umbellatum ovary epidermis cells.

Maria Kwiatkowska, Katarzyna Popłońska, Dariusz Stepiński, Zygmunt Hejnowicz
Folia Histochem Cytobiol 2006;44(2):133-138.

open access

Vol 44, No 2 (2006)
ORIGINAL PAPERS
Submitted: 2011-12-19
Published online: 2006-06-30

Abstract

Microtubules present in the epidermis of Ornithogalum umbellatum ovary in the area of lipotubuloids (i.e. aggregates of lipid bodies surrounded by microtubules) are 25-51 nm in diameter. They consist mainly of 10 and 11, sometimes 9 and 12 protofilaments. An average diameter of microtubule consisting of 9 subunits is about 32 nm, of 10-35 nm, of 11-38 nm and of 12-43 nm, however, individual microtubules in each category significantly vary in size. These differences result from varying distance between protofilaments in microtubule walls and diameters of protofilaments: in thin microtubules they are densely packed and smaller while in thicker ones they are loosely arranged and bigger. A hypothesis has been put forward that changes in microtubule diameter depend on structural changes associated with their functional status and are executed by modifications of protofilament arrangement density and their diameters in microtubule wall. The above hypothesis seems to be in agreement with the opinion formed on the basis of in vitro image of microtubules, that lateral contact between tubulin subunits in neighboring protofilaments indicates some flexibility and changeability during microtubule function.

Abstract

Microtubules present in the epidermis of Ornithogalum umbellatum ovary in the area of lipotubuloids (i.e. aggregates of lipid bodies surrounded by microtubules) are 25-51 nm in diameter. They consist mainly of 10 and 11, sometimes 9 and 12 protofilaments. An average diameter of microtubule consisting of 9 subunits is about 32 nm, of 10-35 nm, of 11-38 nm and of 12-43 nm, however, individual microtubules in each category significantly vary in size. These differences result from varying distance between protofilaments in microtubule walls and diameters of protofilaments: in thin microtubules they are densely packed and smaller while in thicker ones they are loosely arranged and bigger. A hypothesis has been put forward that changes in microtubule diameter depend on structural changes associated with their functional status and are executed by modifications of protofilament arrangement density and their diameters in microtubule wall. The above hypothesis seems to be in agreement with the opinion formed on the basis of in vitro image of microtubules, that lateral contact between tubulin subunits in neighboring protofilaments indicates some flexibility and changeability during microtubule function.
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About this article
Title

Microtubules with different diameter, protofilament number and protofilament spacing in Ornithogalum umbellatum ovary epidermis cells.

Journal

Folia Histochemica et Cytobiologica

Issue

Vol 44, No 2 (2006)

Article type

Original paper

Pages

133-138

Published online

2006-06-30

Page views

2124

Article views/downloads

1735

Bibliographic record

Folia Histochem Cytobiol 2006;44(2):133-138.

Authors

Maria Kwiatkowska
Katarzyna Popłońska
Dariusz Stepiński
Zygmunt Hejnowicz

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