Aspects of plant cell growth and the actin cytoskeleton : lessons from root hairs

The thesis explored the role of the actin cytoskeleton in plant cell growth, focusing on root hairs. It highlighted that plant growth involves cell division and expansion, with the cytoskeleton, comprising microtubules and actin filaments, playing a crucial role. The study visualized the cytoskeleton during cell division in broad bean root tip cells and examined tip growth in vetch root hairs, noting that lipochito-oligosaccharides (LCOs) could reinitiate growth. A spectrin-like protein was identified as a marker for tip growth, and its presence was linked to the nuclear matrix. The actin cytoskeleton's configuration was altered by LCOs, affecting growth, and the study emphasized the importance of actin binding proteins in regulating the cytoskeleton. The research concluded that tip-growing cells, such as root hairs, are valuable for understanding plant growth and the impact of signal molecules.