Root contraction in hyacinth. II. Changes in tubulin levels,microtubule number and orientation associated with differential cell expansion

Root contraction in hyacinth (Hyacinthus orientalis L.) is marked by reoriented cell growth in the cortex of the contractile region. Cellular volume of the inner cortex enlarges fourfold during root contraction. This is associated with large increases in the radial and tangential dimensions and decreases in the longitudinal dimension of the cells. In order to determine the possible role of microtubules (MTs) in these changes we compared tubulin levels and MT numbers and orientation in contracted and non-contracted regions of hyacinth roots. Tubulin content was analysed by a radioimmunoassay; MT numbers and orientation were analyzed by counting profiles in sectioned material using transmission electron microscopy. Contracted tissue was found to have significantly higher levels of tubulin on a per-cell basis than non-contracted tissue, and also increased tubulin levels relative to total protein. The spatial MT frequencies were the same in contracted and non-contracted tissues, indicating a proportional increase in MT numbers in the expanded cells. Although the absolute spatial frequency of MTs was constant, the orientation, as determined by morphometric analysis of MT profiles, was not. While in the longitudinal section plane 42% of the MTs in the non-contracted cells were oblique, in the contracted cells the percentage of MTs presenting oblique profiles increased to 87%. Additionally, a qualitative difference in MTs was observed in contracted cells; electron-opaque material was seen peripherally associated with the MTs of the inner cortex. The changes in tubulin levels and in MT numbers as well as the qualitative differences in the MTs of contracted and non-contracted root regions indicate that, in hyacinth, reoriented cellular enlargement associated with root contraction cannot be explained simply by shifts in the arrangement of preexisting cortical MT arrays, but involves more complex changes in the cytoskeleton.Abbreviations MT(s) microtubule(s) - TEM transmission electron microscopy - RIA radioimmunoassay - M_r apparent molecular mass I=Jernstedt (1984b)     

Inhibitory factor of microtubule assembly from sea urchin egg cortex. I. Preparation and characterization

A new inhibitory factor of the microtubule (MT) assembly system was isolated from unfertilized sea urchin egg cortex. This factor not only suppressed spontaneous brain MT assembly, but also induced depolymerization of the reconstituted MTs. The factor did not suppress initial MT growth initiated by ciliary outer fiber fragments but the assembled MTs were soon depolymerized with time. The inhibitory activity was heat-stable but sensitive to trypsin or urea. The mode of the inhibition was distinct from the inhibitory effects of RNA on the MT assembly. The inhibitory factor partially purified on DEAE-Sephadex A-50 completely inhibited tubulin polymerization in a factor: tubulin ratio of 0.013.     

Assembly of cortical microtubules during cold treatment of the coenocytic green alga,Chaetomorpha moniligera

The effects of cold treatment on the cortical microtubules (MTs) of Chaetomorpha moniligera Kjellman were investigated by immunofluorescence microscopy. Cortical MTs in Chaetomorpha thallus are arranged longitudinally. In this study, 70–75% of MTs disassembled within 4 h on ice while the others remained stable under these conditions. Reticulate background immunofluorescence, assumed to indicate the presence of a tubulin monomer, was distributed about the stable MTs. Immunofluorescence was prominent in only 50% of the cells. Tubulin polymerization was noted where the background and MT immunofluorescence was strong. New MTs grew transversely as single strings or clusters from the sides of MTs after cold treatment for 4 h and elongated with time to take on a reticulate form at 24 h. The significance of this tubulin polymerization under cold treatment is discussed.Abbreviations MT microtubule - MTOC microtubule-organizing center     

Dynamics of microtubule reassembly and reorganization in the coenocytic green alga Ernodesmis verticillata (Kützing) Børgesen

The dynamics of microtubule (MT) disassembly and reassembly were studied in the green alga Ernodesmis verticillata, using indirect immunofluorescent localization of tubulin. This alga possesses two distinct MT arrays: highly-ordered, longitudinally-oriented cortical MTs, and shorter perinuclear MTs radiating from nuclear surfaces. Perinuclear MTs are very labile, completely disassembling in the cold (cells on ice) within 5–10 min or in 25 μM amiprophos-methyl (APM) within 15–30 min. Although cortical MTs are generally absent after 3 h in APM, it takes 45–60 min before any cold-induced depolymerization is apparent, and some cortical MTs persist after 6 h of cold treatment. The extent of immunofluorescence of cytoplasmic (depolymerized?) tubulin is inversely proportional to the abundance of cortical MTs. Recovery of MT arrays upon warming or upon removal of APM occurs within 30–60 min for the perinuclear MTs, but the cortical arrays take much longer to regain their normal patterns. The cortical MTs initially reappear in a random distribution with respect to the cell axis, but within 3–4 d of warming (or 24–36 h of removing APM) they are nearly parallel to each other and to the cell's longitudinal axis. Thus, although the timing differs, the actual patterns of depolymerization and recovery are similar, irrespective of whether physical or chemical agents are used. Longer-term treatments in 1 μM APM indicate that despite the rapid disappearance of perinuclear MTs, a loss of the uniform nuclear spacing occurs gradually over 1–6 d. Similar disorganization of nuclei is obtained with long-term treatment with 1 μM taxol, where a gradual loss of perinuclear MTs is accompanied by an increased abundance of mitotic spindles. This implies that perinuclear MTs can disassemble in vivo in the presence of taxol, and that they are not the sole components involved in maintaining nuclear spacing in these coenocytes. The results indicate that both nuclear and cortical sites of MT nucleation may exist in this organism, and that MT reassembly and re-organization are temporally distinct events in cells that have highly-ordered arrays of long MTs.     

Root contraction in hyacinth III. Orientation of cortical microtubules visualized by immunofluorescence microscopy

Summary Cortical microtubules (MTs) were visualized in root cortex cells ofHyacinthus orientalis L. using immunofluorescence techniques. Cellular MT orientation was determined adjacent to radial longitudinal and transverse walls of root tip, uncontracted, contracting, and fully contracted regions. As seen in longitudinal views, MTs formed parallel, apparently helical arrays which were oriented transversely, axially or obliquely depending upon the region. Transverse sectional views showed that MTs adjacent to transverse cell walls formed a variety of patterns which varied with developmental stage and cell location. Microtubules were oriented in crisscross or parallel arrays. The parallel arrays were oriented either parallel, perpendicular or oblique to the radius of the root. There was an apparent temporal progression in MT reorientation from outer cortical to inner cortical cell layers. A resultant progression of reoriented cell growth could account for root contraction. These findings corroborate earlier electron microscopic observations of changing MT orientation accompanying root contraction, and provide cytological evidence to test mathematical and biophysical models of the mechanics of cell expansion.Abbreviations MT microtubule - MF microfibril - MTSB microtubule stabilizing buffer - PBS phosphate buffered saline     

Microinjection of fluorescent tubulin into plant cells provides a representative picture of the cortical microtubule array

By microinjecting rhodamine-labelled tubulin into living plant cells, it is possible to observe microtubules (MTs) directly and to see how the cortical array reorganizes itself. The validity of the conclusions drawn from such observations depends upon the assumption that most, if not all, of the native MTs are dynamic and incorporate labelled tubulin. However, if arrays also contain MTs that are not exchanging tubulin subunits, such MTs will remain unlabelled, and the labelled MT population will be under-representative of the whole array. To address this potential problem, we microinjected pea epidermal cells with rhodamine-labelled tubulin, then fixed the cells and used fluorescein-conjugated antibodies against tubulin to detect the entire MT array. The two fluorescent patterns corresponded well, confirming that the MTs labelled with exogenous tubulin were evenly distributed throughout the entire array. Also, by comparing the MT image before and after aldehyde fixation, we observed that, although some of the MTs were lost in the procedure, the fixation was able to preserve the arrangement of MTs seen in the living cell. We conclude that fluorescence analogue cytochemistry provides a valid representation of the entire cortical MT array.     

Mutation of Ser172 in yeast β tubulin induces defects in microtubule dynamics and cell division

Ser172 of β tubulin is an important residue that is mutated in a human brain disease and phosphorylated by the cyclin-dependent kinase Cdk1 in mammalian cells. To examine the role of this residue, we used the yeast S. cerevisiae as a model and produced two different mutations (S172A and S172E) of the conserved Ser172 in the yeast β tubulin Tub2p. The two mutants showed impaired cell growth on benomyl-containing medium and at cold temperatures, altered microtubule (MT) dynamics, and altered nucleus positioning and segregation. When cytoplasmic MT effectors Dyn1p or Kar9p were deleted in S172A and S172E mutants, cells were viable but presented increased ploidy. Furthermore, the two β tubulin mutations exhibited synthetic lethal interactions with Bik1p, Bim1p or Kar3p, which are effectors of cytoplasmic and spindle MTs. In the absence of Mad2p-dependent spindle checkpoint, both mutations are deleterious. These findings show the importance of Ser172 for the correct function of both cytoplasmic and spindle MTs and for normal cell division.     

Detyrosination of alpha tubulin does not stabilize microtubules in vivo [published erratum appears in J Cell Biol 1990 Sep;111(3):1325-6]

The relationship between alpha tubulin detyrosination and microtubule (MT) stability was examined directly in cultured fibroblasts by experimentally converting the predominantly tyrosinated MT array to a detyrosinated (Glu) array and then assaying MT stability. MTs in mouse Swiss 3T3 cells displayed an increase in Glu immunostaining fluorescence approximately 1 h after microinjecting antibodies to the tyrosinating enzyme, tubulin tyrosine ligase. Detyrosination progressed to virtual completion after 12 h and persisted for 30-35 h before tyrosinated subunits within MTs were again detected. The stability of these experimentally detyrosinated MTs was tested by first injecting either biotinylated or Xrhodamine-labeled tubulin and then measuring bulk turnover by hapten-mediated immunocytochemistry or fluorescence recovery after photobleaching, respectively. By both methods, turnover was found to be similarly rapid, possessing a half time of approximately 3 min. As a final test of MT stability, the level of acetylated tubulin staining in antibody-injected cells was compared with that observed in adjacent, uninjected cells and also with the staining observed in cells whose MTs had been stabilized with taxol. Although intense Glu staining was observed in both injected and taxol-treated cells, increased acetylated tubulin staining was observed only in the taxol-stabilized MTs, indicating that the MTs were not stabilized by detyrosination. Together, these results demonstrated clearly that detyrosination does not directly confer stability on MTs. Therefore, the stable MTs observed in these and other cell lines must have arisen by another mechanism, and may have become posttranslationally modified after their stabilization.     

Microtubule patterns during meiosis in two higher plant species

Summary A monoclonal antibody to higher plant tubulin was used to trace microtubule (MT) structures by immunofluorescence throughout mitosis and meiosis in two angiosperms,Lycopersicon esculentum andOrnithogalum virens. Root tip cells showed stage specific MT patterns typical of higher plant cells. These included parallel cortical interphase arrays oriented perpendicular to the long axis of the cell, preprophase band MTs in late interphase through prophase, barrelshaped spindles, and finally phragmoplasts. Pollen mother cell divisions exhibited randomly oriented cortical MT arrays in prophase I, pointed spindles during karyokinesis, and elongate phragmoplasts. A preprophase band was not observed in either meiotic division. MT initiation sites were seen as broad zones associated with the nuclear envelope.     

The human EMAP-like protein-70 (ELP70) is a microtubule destabilizer that localizes to the mitotic apparatus.

In this report, we show that the echinoderm microtubule (MT)-associated protein (EMAP) and related EMAP-like proteins (ELPs) share a similar domain organization with a highly conserved hydrophobic ELP (HELP) domain and a large tryptophan-aspartic acid (WD) repeat domain. To determine the function of mammalian ELPs, we generated antibodies against a 70-kDa human ELP and showed that ELP70 coassembled with MTs in HeLa cell extracts and colocalized with MTs in the mitotic apparatus. To determine whether ELP70 bound to MTs directly, human ELP70 was expressed and purified to homogeneity from baculovirus-infected Sf9 cells. Purified ELP70 bound to purified MTs with a stoichiometry of 0.40 +/- 0.04 mol of ELP70/mol of tubulin dimer and with an intrinsic dissociation constant of 0.44 +/- 0.13 microm. Using a nucleated assembly assay and video-enhanced differential interference contrast microscopy, we demonstrated that ELP70 reduced seeded nucleation, reduced the growth rate, and promoted MT catastrophes in a concentration-dependent manner. As a result, ELP70-containing MTs were significantly shorter than MTs assembled from tubulin alone. These data indicate that ELP70 is a novel MT destabilizer. A lateral destabilization model is presented to describe ELP70's effects on microtubules.     

The microtubular cytoskeleton during development of the zygote,proembryo and free-nuclear endosperm inArabidopsis thaliana (L.) Heynh

The microtubular cytoskeleton has been studied during development of the zygote, proembryo and free-nuclear endosperm inA. thaliana using immunofluorescence localization of tubulin in enzymatically isolated material. Abundant micro tubules (MTs) are found throughout proembryogenesis. Microtubules in the coenocytic endosperm are mainly internal. By contrast, there is a re-orientation of MTs to a transverse cortical distribution during zygote development, predominantly in a subapical band which accompanies a phase of apical extension. The presence of these cortical arrays coincides with the elongation of the zygote. Cortical arrays also accompany elongation of the cylindrical suspensor. Extensive networks of MTs ramify throughout the cytoplasm of cells in the proembryo proper. Perinuclear arrays are detected in a number of cell types and MTs contribute to typical mitotic configurations during nuclear divisions. Preprophase bands of MTs are absent throughout megasporogenesis and embryo-sac development and do not occur in endosperm cell divisions. We have observed MTs throughout the first division cycle of the zygote. By placing the observed stages in a most probable sequence, we have identified this cell cycle as the point during embryogenesis at which a preprophase band is reinstated as a regular feature of cell division. Preprophase bands were observed to predict planes of cytokinesis in cell divisions up to the octant stage.Abbreviations DIC differential interference contrast optics - MT microtubule - PPB preprophase band of microtubule We thank Ms. Margaret Travers for her helpful English translation of Yakovlev and Alimova (1976) and Mr. James Whitehead for preparation of Fig. 11. M.C.W. was supported by an Australian Postgraduate Research Award.     

Evidence for a novel affinity mechanism of motor-assisted transport along microtubules

In microtubule (MT) translocation assays, using colloidal gold particles coupled to monoclonal tubulin antibodies to mark positions along MTs, we found that relative motion is possible between the gold particle and an MT, gliding on dynein or kinesin. Such motion evidently occurred by an affinity release and rebinding mechanism that did not require motor activity on the particle. As the MTs moved, particles drifted to the trailing edge of the MT and then were released. Sometimes the particles transferred from one MT to another, moving orthogonally. Although motion of the particles was uniformly rearward, movement was toward the (-) or (+) end of the MT, depending on whether dynein or kinesin, respectively, was used in the assay. These results open possibilities for physiological mechanisms of organelle and other movement that, although dependent on motor-driven microtubule transport, do not require direct motor attachment between the organelle and the microtubule. Our observations on the direction of particle drift and time of release may also provide confirmation in a dynamic system for the conclusion that beta tubulin is exposed at the (+) end of the MT.     

Comparative immunofluorescence and ultrastructural analysis of microtubule organization in Uronema sp., Klebsormidium flaccidum, K. subtilissimum, Stichococcus bacillaris and S. chloranthus (Chlorophyta)

A detailed comparative examination of microtubule (MT) organization in interphase and dividing cells of Uronema sp., Klebsormidium flaccidum, K. subtilissimum, Stichococcus bacillaris and S. chloranthus was made using tubulin immunofluorescence and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). During interphase all the species bear a well-organized cortical MT system, consisting of parallel bundles with different orientations. In Uronema sp. the cortical MT bundles are longitudinally oriented, whereas in the other species they are in transverse orientation to the axis of the cells. Considerable differences in MT organization were also observed during stages of mitosis, mainly preprophase, as well as cytokinesis. In Uronema sp., a particular radial MT assembly is organized during preprophase-early prophase, which was not observed in the other species. In Stichococcus a fine MT ring surrounded the nucleus during preprophase and prophase. An MT ring, together with single cytoplasmic MTs, was also found associated with the developing diaphragm during cytokinesis in Stichococcus. A phycoplast participates in cytokinesis in Uronema sp., but not in the other species. In Uronema sp. the centrosome functions as a microtubule organizing center (MTOC) during mitosis, but not during interphase and cytokinesis. The phylogenetic significance of these differences is discussed in combination with SSU/ITS sequencing and other, existing molecular data.     

Quantitative analysis of microtubule transport in growing nerve processes

In neurons, tubulin is synthesized primarily in the cell body, whereas the molecular machinery for neurite extension and elaboration of microtubule (MT) array is localized to the growth cone region. This unique functional and biochemical compartmentalization of neuronal cells requires transport mechanisms for the delivery of newly synthesized tubulin and other cytoplasmic components from the cell body to the growing axon. According to the polymer transport model, tubulin is transported along the axon as a polymer. Because the majority of axonal MTs are stationary at any given moment, it has been assumed that only a small fraction of MTs translocates along the axon by saltatory movement reminiscent of the fast axonal transport. Such intermittent "stop and go" MT transport has been difficult to detect or to exclude by using direct video microscopy methods. In this study, we measured the translocation of MT plus ends in the axonal shaft by expressing GFP-EB1 in Xenopus embryo neurons in culture. Formal quantitative analysis of MT assembly/disassembly indicated that none of the MTs in the axonal shaft were rapidly transported. Our results suggest that transport of axonal MTs is not required for delivery of newly synthesized tubulin to the growing nerve processes.     

Organization of cortical microtubules in graviresponding maize roots

Immunofluorescence labeling of cortical microtubules (MTs) was used to investigate the relationship between MT arrangement and changes in growth rate of the upper and lower sides of horizontally placed roots of maize (Zea mays L. cv. Merit). Cap cells and cells of the elongation zone of roots grown vertically in light or darkness showed MT arrangements that were transverse (perpendicular) to the growth direction. Microtubules of cells basal to the elongation zone typically showed oblique orientation. Two hours after horizontal reorientation, cap cells of gravicompetent, light-grown and curving roots contained MTs parallel to the gravity vector. The MT arrangement on the upper side of the elongation zone remained transverse but the MTs of the outer four to five layers of cortical cells along the lower side of the elongation zone showed reorientation parallel to the axis of the root. The MTs of the lower epidermis retained their transverse orientation. Dark-grown roots did not curve and did not show reorientation of MTs in cells of the root cap or elongation zone. The data indicate that MT depolymerization and reorientation is correlated with reduction in growth rate, and that MT reorientation is one of the steps of growth control of graviresponding roots.Abbreviations MT microtubule - QC quiescent center This work was supported by National Science Foundation grant IBN-9118094.     

Structure and assembly of the cortical microtubule cytoskeleton in the green alga,Boodlea coacta

Summary Examination was made of the structure and assembly of the cortical microtubule (MT) cytoskeleton in the coenocytic green algaBoodlea coacta (Dickie) Murray et De Toni by immunofluorescence microscopy. Cortical MTs inBoodlea protoplasts are arranged randomly but some show a meridional arrangement within 6 h after protoplast formation. At 6–9 h such MTs become highly concentrated and parallel to each other in certain areas. At 12 h the concentration is uniformly high throughout the cell, indicating the completion of high density meridional arrangement of cortical MTs. Cortical MTs exhibiting a high density, meridional arrangement show characteristic disassembly by treatment with 10 M amiprophos-methyl (APM) or cold treatment (0 °C). Disassembly occurs by each MT unit at positions skipping 30–40 m in the transverse direction, and neighboring MTs subsequently disassemble to form MT groups. Each group becomes slender and then disappears completely within the following 24 h. The meridional arrangement of cortical MTs is disrupted by N-ethylmaleimide (NEM) accompanied by a remarkable reduction in density. The remaining MTs form groups at 30–40 m intervals from each other, as also occurs with drug or cold treatment, but disruption and density return to normal levels following removal of NEM. It appears that there are meridionally oriented channels, anchor-rich and anchor-poor, in the plasma membrane. The channels could be distributed alternately and anchors could be deposited in a cross-linking manner with cortical MTs to form a stable cortical MT-cytoskeleton. MTs comprising the cortical MT cytoskeleton could be oriented by meridionally oriented channels of anchors which are distributed following establishment of cell polarity.Abbreviations APM amiprophos-methyl - MT microtubule - MTOC microtubule organizing center - NEM N-ethylrnaleimide     

Microtubule C‐Terminal Tails Can Change Characteristics of Motor Force Production

Control of intracellular transport is poorly understood, and functional ramifications of tubulin isoform differences between cell types are mostly unexplored. Motors' force production and detachment kinetics are critical for their group function, but how microtubule (MT) details affect these properties – if at all – is unknown. We investigated these questions using both a vesicular transport human kinesin, kinesin‐1, and also a mitotic kinesin likely optimized for group function, kinesin‐5, moving along either bovine brain or MCF7(breast cancer) MTs. We found that kinesin‐1 functioned similarly on the two sets of MTs – in particular, its mean force production was approximately the same, though due to its previously reported decreased processivity, the mean duration of kinesin‐1 force production was slightly decreased on MCF7 MTs. In contrast, kinesin‐5's function changed dramatically on MCF7 MTs: its average detachment force was reduced and its force–velocity curve was different. In spite of the reduced detachment force, the force–velocity alteration surprisingly improved high‐load group function for kinesin‐5 on the cancer‐cell MTs, potentially contributing to functions such as spindle‐mediated chromosome separation. Significant differences were previously reported for C‐terminal tubulin tails in MCF7 versus bovine brain tubulin. Consistent with this difference being functionally important, elimination of the tails made transport along the two sets of MTs similar.     

Properties of the kinetochore in vitro. I. Microtubule nucleation and tubulin binding

We have isolated chromosomes from Chinese hamster ovary cells arrested in mitosis with vinblastine and examined the interactions of their kinetochores with purified tubulin in vitro. The kinetochores nucleate microtubule (MT) growth with complex kinetics. After an initial lag phase, MTs are continuously nucleated with both plus and minus ends distally localized. This mixed polarity seems inconsistent with the formation of an ordered, homopolar kinetochore fiber in vivo. As isolated from vinblastine-arrested cells, kinetochores contain no bound tubulin. The kinetochores of chromosomes isolated from colcemid-arrested cells or of chromosomes incubated with tubulin in vitro are brightly stained after anti-tubulin immunofluorescence. This bound tubulin is probably not in the form of MTs. It is localized to the corona region by immunoelectron microscopy, where it may play a role in MT nucleation in vitro.     

Tobacco protoplasts differentiate into elongate cells without net microtubule depolymerization

Summary Microtubules (MTs) are important for plant cell morphogenesis because they influence the deposition of cell plate and wall components. It has been observed that tobacco protoplasts contain a disordered MT array in the cortex. Following several days in culture, these protoplasts become elongate cells with an orderly cortical MT array. The transformation of the MT array may occur by net depolymerization of the disordered MTs and repolymerization of MTs into an ordered array, or by movement of the array as an integral unit. To experimentally distinguish between these two possibilities, the drug taxol was used to stabilize MTs. Protoplasts derived from suspension cultured tobacco,Nicotiana tabacum, were grown in a medium containing the two plant hormones -naphthaleneacetic acid and benzyladenine, in the presence or absence of 10M taxol. Changes in cell size and shape were quantified using a video image analysis system. Cell elongation had begun within 48h of protoplast conversion, in both treatments, and continued for 7 days. Immunolocalization of tubulin showed that, in the majority of cells, MTs were disorganized immediately following protoplast conversion. After elongation, the MT arrays were observed to have reoriented to an ordered state. Taxol-treated protoplasts were found to elongate faster and to a greater extent than the non-treated controls. Additionally, the cortical array of taxol-treated protoplasts reorganized more quickly. These data indicate that the net depolymerization of disordered cortical MTs is not necessarily required for the differentiation of a protoplast into an elongate cell.Abbreviations APM amiprophosmethyl - BSA bovine serum albumin - DIC differential interference contrast - DTT dithiothreitol - EGTA ethylenegrycol-bis-(-aminoethyl ether)N,N,N,N-tetra-acetic acid - ELISA enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay - FMS Fukuda, Murashige, and Skoog - MS Murashige and Skoog - MT(s) microtubule(s) - PBS phosphate buffered saline - PIPES piperazine-N,N-bis (2-ethanesulfonic acid, 1.5 sodium) - PM plasma membrane - Tris Tris(hydroxymethyl)amino-methane     

Oryzalin,a dinitroaniline herbicide,binds to plant tubulin and inhibits microtubule polymerization in vitro

The effects of oryzalin, a dinitroaniline herbicide, on chromosome behavior and on cellular microtubules (MTs) were examined by light microscopy and immunogold staining, respectively, in endosperm cells from Haemanthus katherinae Bak. Brief treatments with 1.0·10^-8 M oryzalin reduced markedly the migration rate of anaphase chromosomes and 1.0·10^-7 M oryzalin stopped migration abruptly. Oryzalin (1.0·10^-7 M) depolymerized MTs and prevented the polymerization of new MTs at all stages of the mitotic cycle. The chromosome condensation cycle was unaffected by oryzalin. Endothelial cells from the heart of Xenopus leavis showed no chromosomal or microtubular rearrangements after oryzalin treatment. The inhibition by oryzalin of the polymerization of tubulin isolated from cultured cells of Rosa sp. cv. Paul's scarlet was examined in vitro by turbidimetry, electron microscopy and polymer sedimentation analysis. Oryzalin inhibited the rapid phase of taxol-induced polymerization of rose MTs at 24°C with an apparent inhibition constant (K _i ) of 2.59·10⁶ M. Shorter and fewer MTs were formed with increasing oryzalin concentrations, and maximum inhibition of taxol-induced polymerization occurred at approx. 1:1 molar ratios of oryzalin and tubulin. Oryzalin partially depolymerized taxol-stabilized rose MTs. Ligand-binding experiments with [¹⁴C]oryzalin demonstrated the formation of a tubulin-oryzalin complex that was time- and pH-dependent. The tubulin-oryzalin interaction (24°C, pH 7.1) had an apparent affinity constant (K _app) of 1.19·10⁵ M^-1. Oryzalin did not inhibit taxol-induced polymerization of bovinebrain MTs and no appreciable binding of oryzalin to brain tubulin or other proteins was detected. The results demonstrate pharmacological differences between plant and animal tubulins and indicate that the most sensitive mode of action of the dinitroaniline herbicides is the direct poisoning of MT dynamics in cells of higher plants.Abbreviations MT microtubule - SIB sucrose isolation buffer - TO tubulin-oryzalin complex