The genetics of plant structure

At some point during the evolution of land plants, they developed complex genetic control over microtubules, one of the essential structures of plant cells. It is not yet clear, however, how land plants exert this complex control in comparison to their simpler relatives.

The EU funded the 'Control of microtubule nucleation and dynamics in plant cells' (COMNADIPC) project to investigate this phenomenon. A main aim was to better understand how the genetics of microtubule movement evolved.

Project members investigated one particular protein called AUG8, which is present in both a moss (Physcomitrella patens) and the model land plant Arabidopsis thaliana. This protein is known to be associated with microtubule organisation.

Researchers used a number of advanced genetic engineering approaches to study the role of AUG8 in both P. patens and A. thaliana. Specifically, they studied the effects of AUG8 on microtubule function, organisation and movement.

COMNADIPC found that this protein had a major effect on the shape and size of cells, a clear indication that microtubules were affected. Notably, completely removing AUG8 from cells was lethal to plants.

The project also identified where this protein is found in the cell for the first time. In addition, it revealed that AUG8 plays an important role in bringing microtubules together at specific points.

This study has shown that genetic control of functions like cell division and growth has not changed significantly from the earliest plants until today. Future research into the genetic engineering of plants is set to benefit from this knowledge.