Algae. 2010; 25(4): 197-204.
Cytoskeletal changes during nuclear and cell division in the freshwater alga Zygnema cruciatum (Chlorophyta, Zygnematales)
Minchul Yoon1, Jong Won Han2, Mi Sook Hwang3 and Gwang Hoon Kim2,*
1Korea
Atomic Energy Research Institute, Advanced Radiation Technology Institute, Jeongup 580-185, Korea
2Department of Biology, Kongju National University, Kongju 314-701, Korea
3National Fisheries Research and Development Institute (NFRDI), Mokpo 530-831, Korea
ABSTRACT
Cytoskeletal changes were observed during cell division of the green alga Zygnema cruciatum using flourescein isothiocynate (FITC)-conjugated phallacidin for F-actin staining and FITC-anti-α-tubulin for microtubule staining. Z. cruciatum was uninucleate with two star-shaped chloroplasts. Nuclear division and cell plate formation occurred prior to chloroplast division. Actin filaments appeared on the chromosome and nuclear surface during prophase, and the F-actin ring appeared as the cleavage furrow developed. FITC-phallacidin revealed that actin filaments were attached to the chromosomes during metaphase. The F-actin ring disappeared at late metaphase. At telophase, FITC-phallacidin staining of actin filaments disappeared. FITC-anti-α-tubulin staining revealed that microtubules were arranged beneath the protoplasm during interphase and then localized on the nuclear region at prophase, and that the mitotic spindle was formed during metaphase. The microtubules appeared between dividing chloroplasts. The results indicate that a coordination of actin filaments and microtubules might be necessary for nuclear division and chromosome movement in Z. cruciatum.
Keywords :
anti-α-tubulin; microfilament; microtubule; nuclear division; phallacidin; Zygnema
