Microtubule-dependent microtubule nucleation in plant cells

Abstract

Regulation of microtubule nucleation sites is an essential step in microtubule organization. Cortical microtubule arrays in green plant cells at inter-phase are organized in a distinct manner--the array is formed in the absence of previously recognized organelles for microtubule nucleation, for example the centrosome and spindle pole body. Microtubules in the cortical array were recently found to be nucleated as branches on pre-existing microtubules via recruitment of cytosolic gamma-tubulin. In this review we briefly summarize the mechanism of microtubule-dependent microtubule nucleation and discuss a possible role of this mechanism in other cellular processes and their evolution.