Actin-based mechanisms for light-dependent intracellular positioning of nuclei and chloroplasts in Arabidopsis

The plant organelles, chloroplast and nucleus, change their position in response to light. In Arabidopsis thaliana leaf cells, chloroplasts and nuclei are distributed along the inner periclinal wall in darkness. In strong blue light, they become positioned along the anticlinal wall, while in weak blue light, only chloroplasts are accumulated along the inner and outer periclinal walls. Blue-light dependent positioning of both organelles is mediated by the blue-light receptor phototropin and controlled by the actin cytoskeleton. Interestingly, however, it seems that chloroplast movement requires short, fine actin filaments organized at the chloroplast edge, whereas nuclear movement does cytoplasmic, thick actin bundles intimately associated with the nucleus. Although there are many similarities between photo-relocation movements of chloroplasts and nuclei, plant cells appear to have evolved distinct mechanisms to regulate actin organization required for driving the movements of these organelles.Key words: actin, Arabidopsis, blue light, chloroplast positioning, phototropin, nuclear positioning     

Association of actin filaments with axonal microtubule tracts

Axoplasmic organelles move on actin as well as microtubules in vitro and axons contain a large amount of actin, but little is known about the organization and distribution of actin filaments within the axon. Here we undertake to define the relationship of the microtubule bundles typically found in axons to actin filaments by applying three microscopic techniques: laser-scanning confocal microscopy of immuno-labeled squid axoplasm; electronmicroscopy of conventionally prepared thin sections; and electronmicroscopy of touch preparations-a thin layer of axoplasm transferred to a specimen grid and negatively stained. Light microscopy shows that longitudinal actin filaments are abundant and usually coincide with longitudinal microtubule bundles. Electron microscopy shows that microfilaments are interwoven with the longitudinal bundles of microtubules. These bundles maintain their integrity when neurofilaments are extracted. Some, though not all microfilaments decorate with the S1 fragment of myosin, and some also act as nucleation sites for polymerization of exogenous actin, and hence are definitively identified as actin filaments. These actin filaments range in minimum length from 0.5 to 1.5 µm with some at least as long as 3.5 µm. We conclude that the microtubule-based tracks for fast organelle transport also include actin filaments. These actin filaments are sufficiently long and abundant to be ancillary or supportive of fast transport along microtubules within bundles, or to extend transport outside of the bundle. These actin filaments could also be essential for maintaining the structural integrity of the microtubule bundles.     

Some of eukaryotic elongation factor 2 is colocalized with actin microfilament bundles in mouse embryo fibroblasts

Indirect immunofluorescent microscopy was used to study the distribution of eukaryotic elongation factor 2 (EF-2) in cultured mouse embryo fibroblasts. The perinuclear area (endoplasm) of all the cells and many straight cables running along the whole cytoplasm were stained with monospecific goat or rabbit antibodies to rat liver EF-2. Double staining of the cells with antibodies to EF-2 and rhodaminyl-phalloidin (used for actin microfilament detection) showed that EF-2 containing cables coincided with bundles of actin microfilaments. Not all actin microfilament bundles contained EF-2: sometimes EF-2 was not observed in bundles running along the cell edges or in actin microfilament junctions. Triton X-100 extracted most of EF-2 from the cells and no actin microfilament bundles were stained with the EF-2 antibodies in the Triton-extracted cells. Thus, in mouse embryo fibroblasts EF-2 can be found along actin microfilament bundles, but it is unlikely to be their integral protein.     

Immunofluorescence demonstration of tubulin and actin in estrogen-induced rat prolactinoma cells in vitro : Alteration of their distribution after bromocriptine, colchicine and cytochalasin B treatments

Cultured cells in vitro from estrogen-induced rat prolactin-secreting adenomas (prolactinomas) were examined by indirect immunofluorescence microscopy for the distribution of cytoskeletal proteins and alterations of cytoskeleton after treatment with bromocriptine, colchicine and cytochalasin B (CB). After 8 days in culture, prolactinoma cells were well expanded and developed cytoplasmic processes were seen. The cytoplasmic microtubules were observed as fine reticular networks radiating from perinuclear portions toward the cell periphery when decorated with an antibody against tubulin. On the other hand, the actin filaments showed diffuse and spotty distribution when detected with an anti-actin antibody. Contaminated fibroblasts showed a reticular distribution of microtubules and a parallel array of actin cables which corresponds to "stress fibers" throughout the cytoplasm. After treatment with bromocriptine, the reticular distribution of microtubules in prolactinoma cells changed into a coarse and sparse pattern, which was identical with the changes in the distribution of tubulin after treatment with colchicine. On the other hand, distribution of actin was not affected by bromocriptine. Bromocriptine treatment did not alter the distribution of microtubules and actin filaments in fibroblasts, whereas colchicine changed the distribution of microtubules in both prolactinoma cells and fibroblasts. CB treatment changed the localization of actin filaments in both kinds of cells. These in vitro studies indicated bromocriptine would selectively affect the cytoplasmic microtubular system of prolactinoma cells.     

Involvement of microtubules and 10-nm filaments in the movement and positioning of nuclei in syncytia

Previous studies (Holmes, K.V., and P.W. Choppin. J. Exp. Med. 124:501- 520; J. Cell Biol. 39:526-543) showed that infection of baby hamster kidney (BHK21-F) cells with the parainfluenza virus SV5 causes extensive cell fusion, that nuclei migrate in the syncytial cytoplasm and align in tightly-packed rows, and that microtubules are involved in nuclear movement and alignment. The role of microtubules, 10-nm filaments, and actin-containing microfilaments in this process has been investigated by immunofluorescence microscopy using specific antisera, time-lapse cinematography, and electron microscopy. During cell fusion, micro tubules and 10-nm filaments from many cells form large bundles which are localized between rows of nuclei. No organized bundles of actin fibers were detected in these areas, although actin fibers were observed in regions away from the aligned nuclei. Although colchicine disrupts microtubules and inhibits nuclear movement, cytochalasin B (CB; 20-50 microgram/ml) does not inhibit cell fusion or nuclear movement. However, CB alters the shape of the syncytium, resulting in long filamentous processes extending from a central region. When these processes from neighboring cells make contact, fusion occurs, and nuclei migrate through the channels which are formed. Electron and immunofluorescence microscopy reveal bundles of microtubules and 10-nm filaments in parallel arrays within these processes, but no bundles of microfilaments were detected. The effect of CB on the structural integrity of microfilaments at this high concentration (20 microgram/ml) was demonstrated by the disappearance of filaments interacting with heavy meromyosin. Cycloheximide (20 microgram/ml) inhibits protein synthesis but does not affect cell fusion, the formation of microtubules and 10-nm filament bundles, or nuclear migration and alignment; thus, continued protein synthesis is not required. The association of microtubules and 10-nm filaments with nuclear migration and alignment suggests that microtubules and 10-nm filaments are two components in a system which serves both cytoskeletal and force-generating functions in intracellular movement and position of nuclei.     

Cytoskeletal arrays in the cells of soybean root nodules: The role of actin microfilaments in the organisation of symbiosomes

Summary Within the infected cells of root nodules there is evidence of stratification and organisation of symbiosomes and other organelles. This organisation is likely to be important for the efficient exchange of nutrients and metabolites during functioning of the nodules. Using immunocytochemical labelling and confocal microscopy we have determined the organisation of cytoskeletal elements, micro tubules and actin microfilaments in soybean nodule cells, with a view to assessing their possible role in organelle distribution. Most microtubule arrays occurred in the cell cortex where they formed disorganised arrays in both uninfected and infected cells from mature nodules. In infected cells from developing nodules, parallel arrays of microtubules, transverse to the long axis of the cell, were observed. In incipient nodules, before release of rhizobia into the plant cells, the cells also had an array of microtubules which radiated from the nucleus into the cytoplasm. Three actin arrays were identified in the infected cells of mature nodules: an aster-like array which emanated from the surface of the nucleus, a cortical array which had an arrangement similar to that of the cortical microtubules, and, throughout the cytoplasm, an array of fine filaments which had a honeycomb arrangement consistent with a distribution between adjacent symbiosomes. Uninfected cells from mature nodules had only a random cortical array of actin filaments. In incipient nodules, the density of actin microfilaments associated with the nucleus and radiating through the cytoplasm was much less than that seen in mature infected cells. The cortical array of actin also differed, being composed of swirling configurations of filaments. After invasion of nodule cells by the rhizobia, the number of actin filaments emanating from the nucleus increased markedly and formed a network through the cytoplasm. Conversely, the cytoplasmic array in uninfected cells of developing nodules was identical to that in the cells of incipient nodules. The cytoplasmic network in infected cells of developing nodules is likely to be the precursor of the honeycomb array seen in mature nodule cells. We propose that this actin array plays a role in the spatial organisation of symbiosomes and that the microtubules are involved in the localisation of mitochondria and plastids at the cell periphery in the infected cells of root nodules.     

Arabidopsis VILLIN1 generates actin filament cables that are resistant to depolymerization

Dynamic cytoplasmic streaming, organelle positioning, and nuclear migration use molecular tracks generated from actin filaments arrayed into higher-order structures like actin cables and bundles. How these arrays are formed and stabilized against cellular depolymerizing forces remains an open question. Villin and fimbrin are the best characterized actin-filament bundling or cross-linking proteins in plants and each is encoded by a multigene family of five members in Arabidopsis thaliana. The related villins and gelsolins are conserved proteins that are constructed from a core of six homologous gelsolin domains. Gelsolin is a calcium-regulated actin filament severing, nucleating and barbed end capping factor. Villin has a seventh domain at its C terminus, the villin headpiece, which can bind to an actin filament, conferring the ability to crosslink or bundle actin filaments. Many, but not all, villins retain the ability to sever, nucleate, and cap filaments. Here we have identified a putative calcium-insensitive villin isoform through comparison of sequence alignments between human gelsolin and plant villins with x-ray crystallography data for vertebrate gelsolin. VILLIN1 (VLN1) has the least well-conserved type 1 and type 2 calcium binding sites among the Arabidopsis VILLIN isoforms. Recombinant VLN1 binds to actin filaments with high affinity (K(d) approximately 1 microM) and generates bundled filament networks; both properties are independent of the free Ca(2+) concentration. Unlike human plasma gelsolin, VLN1 does not nucleate the assembly of filaments from monomer, does not block the polymerization of profilin-actin onto barbed ends, and does not stimulate depolymerization or sever preexisting filaments. In kinetic assays with ADF/cofilin, villin appears to bind first to growing filaments and protects filaments against ADF-mediated depolymerization. We propose that VLN1 is a major regulator of the formation and stability of actin filament bundles in plant cells and that it functions to maintain the cable network even in the presence of stimuli that result in depolymerization of other actin arrays.     

Interrelation between the spatial disposition of actin filaments and microtubules during the differentiation of tracheary elements in culturedZinnia cells

Summary Changes in the spatial relationship between actin filaments and microtubules during the differentiation of tracheary elements (TEs) was investigated by a double staining technique in isolatedZinnia mesophyll cells. Before thickening of the secondary wall began to occur, the actin filaments and microtubules were oriented parallel to the long axis of the cell. Reticulate bundles of microtubules and aggregates of actin filaments emerged beneath the plasma membrane almost simultaneously, immediately before the start of the deposition of the secondary wall. The aggregates of actin filaments were observed exclusively between the microtubule bundles. Subsequently, the aggregates of actin filaments extended preferentially in the direction transverse to the long axis of the cell, and the arrays of bundles of microtubules which were still present between the aggregates of actin filaments became transversely aligned. The deposition of the secondary walls then took place along the transversely aligned bundles of microtubules.Disruption of actin filaments by cytochalasin B produced TEs with longitudinal bands of secondary wall, along which bundles of microtubules were seen, while TEs produced in the absence of cytochalasin B had transverse bands of secondary wall. These results indicate that actin filaments play an important role in the change in the orientation of arrays of microtubules from longitudinal to transverse. Disruption of microtubules by colchicine resulted in dispersal of the regularly arranged aggregates of actin filaments, but did not inhibit the formation of the aggregates itself, suggesting that microtubules are involved in maintaining the arrangement of actin filaments but are not involved in inducing the formation of the regularly arranged aggregates of actin filaments.These findings demonstrate that actin filaments cooperate with microtubules in controlling the site of deposition of the secondary wall in developing TEs.Abbreviations DMSO dimethylsulfoxide - EGTA ethyleneglycolbis(-aminoethyl ether)-N,N,N,N-tetraacetic acid - FITC fluorescein isothiocyanate - MSB microtubule-stabilizing buffer - PBS phosphate buffered saline - PIPES piperazine-N,N-bis(2-ethanesulfonic acid) - TE tracheary element     

Possible association of actin filaments with chloroplasts of spinach mesophyll cells in vivo and in vitro

Summary. In palisade mesophyll cells of spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.) kept under low-intensity white light, chloroplasts were apparently immobile and seemed to be surrounded by fine bundles of actin filaments. High-intensity blue light induced actin-dependent chloroplast movement concomitant with the appearance of a couple of long, straight bundles of actin filaments in each cell, whereas high-intensity red light was essentially ineffective in inducing these responses. The actin organization observed under low-intensity white light has been postulated to function in anchoring chloroplasts at proper intracellular positions through direct interaction with the chloroplasts. Intact chloroplasts, which retained their outer envelopes, were isolated after homogenization of leaves and Percoll centrifugation. No endogenous actin was detected by immunoblotting in the final intact-chloroplast fraction prepared from the leaves kept under low-intensity white light or in darkness. In cosedimentation assays with exogenously added skeletal muscle filamentous actin, however, actin was detected in the intact-chloroplast fraction precipitated after low-speed centrifugation. The association of actin with chloroplasts was apparently dependent on incubation time and chloroplast density. After partial disruption of the outer envelope of isolated chloroplasts by treatment with trypsin, actin was no longer coprecipitated. The results suggest that chloroplasts in spinach leaves can directly interact with actin, and that this interaction may be involved in the regulation of intracellular positioning of chloroplasts. Correspondence and reprints: Department of Biology, Graduate School of Science, Osaka University, Machikaneyama 1-1, Toyonaka, Osaka 560-0043, Japan. Present address: Tsukuba Research and Development Center, Fuji Oil Co., Ltd., Tsukuba-gun, Ibaraki, Japan.     

Fluorescence visualization of the distribution of microfilaments in gonads and early embryos of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans

Several intracellular motility events in the Caenorhabditis elegans zygote (pseudocleavage, the asymmetric meeting of the pronuclei, the segregation of germ line-specific granules, and the generation of an asymmetric spindle) appear to depend on microfilaments (MFs). To investigate how MFs participate in these manifestations of zygotic asymmetry, the distribution of MFs in oocytes and early embryos was examined, using both antibodies to actin and the F-actin-specific probe rhodamine-phalloidin. In early-stage zygotes, MFs are found in a uniform cortical meshwork of fine fibers and dots or foci. In later zygotes, concomitant with the intracellular movements that are thought to be MF mediated, MFs also become asymmetrically rearranged; as the zygote undergoes pseudocleavage and as the germ line granules become localized in the posterior half of the cell, the foci of actin become progressively more concentrated in the anterior hemisphere. The foci remain anterior as the spindle becomes asymmetric and the zygote undergoes its first mitosis, at which time fibers align circumferentially around the zygote where the cleavage furrow will form. A model for how the anterior foci of actin may participate in zygotic motility events is discussed. Phalloidin and anti-actin antibodies have also been used to visualize MFs in the somatic tissues of the adult gonad. The myoepithelial cells that surround maturing oocytes are visibly contractile and contain an unusual array of MF bundles; the MFs run roughly longitudinally from the loop of the gonad to the spermatheca. Myosin thick filaments are distributed along the MFs in a periodic manner suggestive of a sarcomere-like configuration. It is proposed that these actin and myosin filaments interact to cause sheath cell contraction and the movement of oocytes through the gonad.     

Correlative immuno-electron-microscopic and immunofluorescent localization of actin in sensory and supporting cells of the inner ear by use of a low-temperature embedding resin

Summary The cochleas from chinchilla inner ears were processed in the cold through Lowicryl K4M, and cured by UV light. Thick (2 m) sections were reacted with primary antibodies raised against actin, and anti-actin antibodies localized by FITC epifluorescence. On thin sections from the same blocks anti-actin antibodies were localized ultrastructurally with secondary antibodies coupled to colloidal gold.In the hair cells, actin was present in the stereocilia and cuticular plate, regions where thin filaments were observed by electron microscopy. Colloidal gold was uniformly distributed over these regions and over the stereocilia rootlets demonstrating that actin was present in this region although previously in permeabilized cells, the rootlet was not decorated with myosin subfragment S-1. Actin was present in the pillar and Deiters supporting cells at the reticular lamina and at the basilar membrane, where a meshwork of thin filaments was seen by electron microscopy. Colloidal gold particles were also localized over the thin processes of the pillar and Deiters cells, and over the region of the Deiters cell which envelops the base of the outer hair cell. In these regions actin co-localized with microtubules along the entire length of the supporting cells.     

Reorganized actin filaments anchor chloroplasts along the anticlinal walls of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Vallisneria</Emphasis> epidermal cells under high-intensity blue light

In epidermal cells of the aquatic angiosperm Vallisneria gigantea Graebner, high-intensity blue light (BL) induces the avoidance response of chloroplasts. We examined simultaneous BL-induced changes in the configuration of actin filaments in the cytoplasmic layers that face the outer periclinal wall (P side) and the anticlinal wall (A side). The results clearly showed that dynamic reorganization of the actin cytoskeleton occurs on both sides. Upon BL irradiation, thick, long bundles of actin filaments appeared, concomitant with the directed migration of chloroplasts from the P side to the A side. After 15–20 min of BL irradiation, fine actin bundles on only the A side appeared to associate with chloroplasts that had migrated from the P side. To examine the role of the fine actin bundles, we evaluated the anchorage of chloroplasts by centrifuging living cells. Upon BL irradiation, the resistance of chloroplasts on both the P and A sides to the centrifugal force decreased remarkably. After 20 min of BL irradiation, the resistance of chloroplasts on the A side increased again, but chloroplasts on the P side could still be displaced. The BL-induced recovery of resistance of chloroplasts on the A side was sensitive to photosynthesis inhibitors but insensitive to an inhibitor of flavoproteins. The photosynthesis inhibitors also prevented the fine actin bundles from appearing on the A side under BL irradiation. These results strongly suggest that the BL-induced avoidance response of chloroplasts includes photosynthesis-dependent and actin-dependent anchorage of chloroplasts on the A side of epidermal cells.     

Regulation of integrin-mediated adhesion at focal contacts by cyclic AMP

Cyclic AMP (cAMP) elevation causes diverse types of cultured cells to round partially and develop arborized cell processes. Renal glomerular mesangial cells are smooth, muscle-like cells and in culture contain abundant actin microfilament cables that insert into substratum focal contacts. cAMP elevation causes adhesion loss, microfilament cable fragmentation, and shape change in cultured mesangial cells. We investigated the roles of the classical vitronectin (αVβ3 integrin) and fibronectin (α5β1 integrin) receptors in these changes. Mesangial cells on vitronectin-rich substrata contained microfilament cables that terminated in focal contacts that stained with antibodies to vitronectin receptor. cAMP elevation caused loss of focal contact and associated vitronectin receptor. Both fibronectin and its receptor stained in a fibrillary pattern at the cell surface under control conditions but appeared aggregated along the cell processes after cAMP elevation. This suggested that cAMP elevation caused loss of adhesion mediated by vitronectin receptor but not by fibronectin receptor. We plated cells onto fibronectin-coated slides to test the effect of ligand immobilization on the cellular response to cAMP. On fibronectin-coated slides fibronectin receptor was observed in peripheral focal contacts where actin filaments terminated, as seen with vitronectin receptor on vitronectin-coated substrata, and in abundant linear arrays distributed along microfilaments as well. Substratum contacts mediated by fibronectin receptor along the length of actin filaments have been termed fibronexus contacts. After cAMP elevation, microfilaments fragmented and fibronectin receptor disappeared from peripheral focal contacts, but the more central contacts along residual microfilament fragments appeared intact. Also, substratum adhesion was maintained after cAMP elevation on fibronectin—but not on vitronectincoated surfaces. Although other types of extracellular matrix receptors may also be involved, our observations suggest that cAMP regulates adhesion at focal contacts but not at fibronexus-type extracellular matrix contacts. © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Unstable F-actin specifies the area and microtubule direction of cell expansion in Arabidopsis root hairs

Plant cells expand by exocytosis of wall material contained in Golgi-derived vesicles. We examined the role of local instability of the actin cytoskeleton in specifying the exocytosis site in Arabidopsis root hairs. During root hair growth, a specific actin cytoskeleton configuration is present in the cell's subapex, which consists of fine bundles of actin filaments that become more and more fine toward the apex, where they may be absent. Pulse application of low concentrations of the actin-depolymerizing drugs cytochalasin D and latrunculin A broadened growing root hair tips (i.e., they increased the area of cell expansion). Interestingly, recovery from cytochalasin D led to new growth in the original growth direction, whereas in the presence of oryzalin, a microtubule-depolymerizing drug, this direction was altered. Oryzalin alone, at the same concentration, had no influence on root hair elongation. These results represent an important step toward understanding the spatial and directional regulation of root hair growth.     

Supramolecular structures in mycoplasmas

Mycoplasma pneumoniae cells treated with Triton X-100 showed a detergent-resistant cytoskeleton. This cytoskeleton consists of microfilaments which seem related to eukaryotic actin filaments, both morphologically and in some chemical properties, including specific staining by anti-actin antibodies and rhodamine-labeled phalloidin. The degree of homology, however, is still unclear. In motile cells the filaments form an irregular network in the cytoplasm of the cell body and a bundle in the frontal projection corresponding to the leading edge of the gliding cells. This particular arrangement may reflect different functions. The microfilaments could be isolated by differential centrifugation. Analysis of the microfilament fraction by SDS gel electrophoresis revealed five major polypeptide bands. One of these proteins, with a molecular weight of 42.5 kd, co-migrated with rabbit muscle actin. No filaments could be found in a nonmotile mutant, M-22.     

Distribution of actin and tubulin in cells and in glycerinated cell models after treatment with cytochalasin B (CB)

The organization of microfilaments and microtubules in cultured cells before and after the addition of cytochalasin B (CB) was studied both by electron microscopy and immunofluorescence microscopy using antibodies specific for actin, tubulin and tropomyosin. CB induces a rapid disorganization of normal microfilament bundles. Star-like patches of actin and tropomyosin are visualized in immunofluorescence microscopy and dense aggregates of condensed microfilaments are seen in electron microscopy. The integrity of the microtubules is not changed by CB treatment. Addition of CB to glycerinated cells, in contrast to normal cells, does not result in the disorganization of microfilament bundles. CB-treated glycerinated models can still contract upon addition of ATP. Thus the CB-induced rearrangement of microfilament bundles occurs only in vivo and not in glycerinated cell contractility models.     

Conformation of cytoskeletal elements during the division of infected Lupinus albus L. nodule cells

Lupin nodule cells maintain their ability to divide for several cycles after being infected by endosymbiotic rhizobia. The conformation of the cytoskeletal elements of nodule cells was studied by fluorescence labelling, immunocytochemistry, and laser confocal and transmission electron microscopy. The dividing infected cells showed the normal microtubule and actin patterns of dividing plant cells. The clustered symbiosomes were tethered to the spindle-pole regions and moved to the cell poles during spindle elongation. In metaphase, anaphase, and early telophase, the symbiosomes were found at opposite cell poles where they did not interfere with the spindle filaments or phragmoplast. This symbiosome positioning was comparable with that of the organelles (which ensures organelle inheritance during plant cell mitosis). Tubulin microtubules and actin microfilaments appeared to be in contact with the symbiosomes. The possible presence of actin molecular motor myosin in nodules was analysed using a monoclonal antibody against the myosin light chain. The antigen was detected in protein extracts of nodule and root cytosol as bands of approximately 20 kDa (the size expected). In the nodules, an additional polypeptide of 65 kDa was found. Immunogold techniques revealed the antigen to be localized over thin microfilaments linked to the cell wall, as well as over the thicker microfilament bundles and surrounding the symbiosomes. The pattern of cytoskeleton rearrangement in dividing infected cells, along with the presence of myosin antigen, suggests that the positioning of symbiosomes in lupin nodule cells might depend on the same mechanisms used to partition genuine plant cell organelles during mitosis.     

Blue-light-induced reorganization of the actin cytoskeleton and the avoidance response of chloroplasts in epidermal cells of<Emphasis Type="Italic"> Vallisneria gigantea</Emphasis>

In leaf epidermal cells of the aquatic angiosperm Vallisneria gigantea Graebner, high-intensity blue light induces the actin-dependent avoidance response of chloroplasts. By semi-quantitative motion analysis and phalloidin staining, time courses of the blue-light-induced changes in the mode of movement of individual chloroplasts and in the configuration of actin filaments were examined in the presence and absence of a flavoprotein inhibitor, diphenylene iodonium. In dark-adapted cells, short, thick actin bundles seemed to surround each chloroplast, which was kept motionless in the outer periclinal cytoplasm of the cells. After 10 min of irradiation with high-intensity blue light, a rapid, unidirectional movement of chloroplasts was induced, concomitant with the appearance of aggregated, straight actin bundles stretched over the outer periclinal cytoplasm. Diphenylene iodonium inhibited the avoidance response of chloroplasts, apparently by delaying a change in the mode of chloroplast movement from random sway to unidirectional migration, by suppressing the appearance of aggregated, straight actin bundles. In partially irradiated individual cells, redistribution of chloroplasts and reorganization of actin filaments occurred only in the areas exposed to blue light. From the results, we propose that the short, thick actin bundles in the vicinity of chloroplasts function to anchor the chloroplasts in dark-adapted cells, and that the aggregated, straight actin bundles organized under blue-light irradiation provide tracks for unidirectional movement of chloroplasts.Preliminary results of part of the local irradiation study have already been reported in abstract form [N. Sakurai et al. (2002) J Photosci 9:326–328].