Vol 44, No 2 (2006)
Original paper
Submitted: 2011-12-19
Published online: 2006-06-30
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.
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.
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