Abstract Detail

Cell biology

Kim, Hae Ryoung [1], Choi, Da Yoon [1], Bisgrove, Sherryl [1].

The microtubule associated protein End Binding 1b and root hair elongation.

Root hairs are long tubular extensions of root epidermal cells. They facilitate the uptake of water and nutrients by roots and help anchor plants securely in the soil. They form in two steps; initiation produces a bulge that elongates by a process known as tip growth. During tip growth expansion is localized to one region of the cell, the growing tip. Microtubules are thought to stabilize the position of the growth site thereby maintaining the direction of elongation. This model is based on the observation that roots treated with microtubule-depolymerizing drugs have root hairs that are crooked rather than straight. We discovered that seedlings carrying mutations in the gene coding for the microtubule associated protein END BINDING 1b (EB1b) and another unknown gene have root hairs that are much shorter than wild type. We named the unknown gene NUBBIN because of the root hair defects in double mutants. This phenotype suggests that microtubules regulate root hair elongation in addition to stabilizing the position of the growing tip. We are investigating how EB1b and NUBBIN mediate root hair elongation and are in the process of identifying the NUBBIN gene.

1 - Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, BC, V5A 1S6, Canada

Keywords:
microtubule
tip growth
root hair.

Presentation Type: Poster:Posters for Topics
Session: P
Location: Hall D/The Shaw Conference Centre
Date: Monday, July 27th, 2015
Time: 5:30 PM
Number: PCL003
Abstract ID:749
Candidate for Awards:CSPB President's Award for Best Student Presentation