Exploring the plant endomembrane system with advanced microscopy

Abstract: We have for many years been investigating the structure and function of the early plant secretory pathway, endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and Golgi apparatus using a combination of live cell imaging, fluorescent proteins and electron microscopy. This has revealed various modes of movement in the ER network and that the individual Golgi bodies move with the surface of the ER around the cortex of cells driven by an as yet to be fully characterised actin/myosin system. More recently we have been using a combination of near super resolution confocal microscopy, laser tweezers and three dimensional high resolution scanning electron microscopy to re-assess the structure of the interface between the ER and Golgi apparatus and the mechanisms driving Golgi movement. In mammalian cells transport from the ER to Golgi is via, so called COPII, coated vesicles and the plant world has in general adopted this model. In this seminar a new model for the interface will be proposed which involves direct tubular connections between the ER and Golgi and an actin filament sliding system driving ER and Golgi movement.

Host: Clare Steele-King