MEPOLHAIR · Participation of endomembranes and components of the cell wall on the maintenance of plant cell polarity

Final Activity Report Summary - MEPOLHAIR (Participation of endomembranes and components of the cell wall on the maintenance of plant cell polarity)

Internal cell polarity represents leading factor determining further developmental program in plant cells. The fundamental questions concerning regulation of tip growth as a highly polarised type of cellular elongation are still matter of intense scientific research. Although mechanism of tip growth has been studied thoroughly, complex and clear model is still not available. Our project aimed the study of tip-growing plant cells using the cell biological approach: characterisation of the integrity of the growing tip, monitoring of the plasma membrane, endocytosis, behaviour of structural cell wall compartments and characterisation of different developmental stages of root hair formation using modern non-invasive methods of cell imaging. These aspects were studied in control conditions and under influence of selected stress environmental factors. It is assumed that composition of the membrane play a role in transport of vesicles translocating key regulation proteins and in the correct positioning of signal proteins. It is not clear how the alterations in the membrane composition affect plant cell polarity. Results of the project address this question by: (1) characterising the developmental role of the sterols in polarly growing root hairs; (2) testing the effects of heavy metals on maintaining the growth and structural properties of the plasma membrane. Incorporation of genetic techniques like characterisation of mutant plants with aberrant development of root hairs and modified transgenic lines was achieved within international collaboration with European scientific institutions. The results of this project represent a contribution in the extension of our knowledge about maintaining the polarity of the growing root hairs. Main scientific achievements are answered questions about: (1) developmental role of sterols in the control of plant root hair elongation by means of regulation of the targeted vesicle trafficking and effectiveness of endocytosis, and about (2) development and maintaining of the root hair tip growth under changing conditions of the environment. Original data of aluminium actions on root cells of Arabidopsis thaliana has been published. The project has progressed in our understanding of the involvement of plasma membrane and endomembranes in the tip growth. The results also expand our knowledge on the effects of heavy metals on polarized growth with respect to heavy metal tolerance in plants. Thus, results contribute to the understanding of some aspects determining tip growth of root hairs and polarity of plant cells.

Data: CORDIS, © European Union