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How and Y plant microtubules branch

Nature Cell Biology volume 7, pages 927–929 (2005)Cite this article

Plant cortical microtubule arrays influence plant morphogenesis, but the nature of microtubule genesis and self-organization has long puzzled cell biologists. In this issue, Murata and coworkers provide some answers by showing that γ-tubulin nucleates new microtubules along the lengths of existing microtubules, resulting in dispersed 'Y'-branched organizational centres.

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Figure 1: In a growing plant cell, cortical microtubules show a net transverse alignment relative to the major growth axis.
Figure 2: Cortical microtubules are attached to the plasma membrane and these microtubules have γ-tubulin nucleating complexes associated along their length.

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  1. Department of Biology, Pennsylvania State University, 208 Mueller Laboratory, University Park, 16802, PA, USA

    Richard Cyr

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Cyr, R. How and Y plant microtubules branch. Nat Cell Biol 7, 927–929 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1038/ncb1005-927

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