Characterization of GhRac1 GTPase expressed in developing cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) fibers

Cytoskeleton assembly plays an important role in determining cotton fiber cell length and morphology and is developmentally regulated. As in other plant cells, it is not clear how cytoskeletal assembly in fibers is regulated. Recently, several Rac/Rop GTPases in Arabidopsis were shown to regulate isotropic and polar cell growth of root hairs and pollen tubes by controlling assembly of the cytoskeleton. GhRac1, isolated from cottonseeds, is a member of the Rac/Rop GTPase family and is abundantly expressed in rapidly growing cotton tissues. GhRac1 shows the greatest sequence similarity to the group IV subfamily of Arabidopsis Rac/Rop genes. Overexpression of GhRac1 in E. coli led to the production of a functional GTPase as shown by in vitro enzyme activity assay. In contrast to other Rac/Rop GTPases found in cotton fiber, GhRac1 is highly expressed during the elongation stage of fiber development with expression decreasing dramatically when the rate of fiber elongation declines. The association of highest GhRac1 expression during stages of maximal cotton fiber elongation suggests that GhRac1 GTPase may be a potential regulator of fiber elongation by controlling cytoskeletal assembly.