Model Cell: Root Hair
 |
 |
||
|
|||
 |
 |
Root-hair cells in Arabidopsis are unicellular, and develop in alternate root epidermal cell files. A root hair initiates as a tiny bulge near the apex of a trichoblast.Subsequently a growth domain becomes specified within the bulge and the cell embarks on a phase of 'tip-growth' from this region. Tip growth has been shown to be an actin-dependent process and is characterized by a vesicle rich region at the cell apex.
An interference with the actin cytoskeleton invariably results in short, non-extending, thick root-hairs.
However, the directionality as well as maintainence of tip-directed growth appears to be determined by the microtubule cytoskeleton. Aberrant microtubule behaviour leads to loss of polar root hair growth. Resultant root-hairs are randomly branched and multiple-tipped. (see image)
Our lab uses the tip-growth model, root hair cells to investigate the response hierarchy and interactions between the actin and microtubule cytoskeletal systems.
