Study of Magnitude and Direction of Vesicle Dynamics in Growing Pollen Tubes by Fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (FRAP) (CAT#: STEM-MT-0013-WXH)

Introduction

The delivery of cell wall material and membrane to growing plant cell surfaces requires the spatial and temporal coordination of secretory vesicle trafficking. Dense populations of vesicles moving rapidly are typical for plant cells with an active secretory mechanism and for rapidly growing cells. In plant cells, both cell growth and shape change require enlargement of the plasma membrane and expansion of the adjoining cell wall. To allow for an increase in cellular surface, additional material for both membrane and cell wall needs to be provided. These are delivered in the form of secretory vesicles. The contents packaged inside these vesicles consist of the precursor molecules that are added to the cell wall, whereas the membrane surrounding the vesicle is inserted into the expanding plasma membrane. In no other plant cellular system is this process of precisely controlled vesicle delivery as impressively visible as in the rapidly growing pollen tube.