MicroFilament Analyzer, an image analysis tool for quantifying fibrillar orientation, reveals changes in microtubule organization during gravitropism

• DOI: 10.1111/tpj.12174
• Publication Date: 2013-03-15T03:30:11Z
• Authors: Eveline Jacques; Jan Buytaert; Darren M. Wells; Michal Lewandowski; Malcolm J. Bennett; Joris Dirckx; Jean‐Pierre Verbelen; Kris Vissenberg
• Keywords: 0301 basic medicine; Microscopy, Confocal; Arabidopsis Proteins; Physics; Recombinant Fusion Proteins; Meristem; Arabidopsis; Plants, Genetically Modified; Microtubules; Plant Roots; Actins; Plant Epidermis; Actin Cytoskeleton; Gravitropism; 03 medical and health sciences; Biology; Plant Shoots; Software

Summary Image acquisition is an important step in the study of cytoskeleton organization. As visual interpretations and manual measurements digital images are prone to errors require a great amount time, freely available software package named MicroFilament Analyzer ( MFA ) was developed. The goal provide tool that facilitates high‐throughput analysis determine orientation filamentous structures on more standardized, objective repeatable way. Here, rationale applicability program demonstrated by analyzing microtubule patterns epidermal cells control gravi‐stimulated Arabidopsis thaliana roots. Differential expansion either side root results downward bending tip. cell depends properties wall, this may imply differential cellulose microfibrils. deposition orchestrated cortical microtubules, were analyzed. detects image identifies main orientation(s) within individual cells. This revealed four distinguishable indicated gravitropic stimulation developmental age both significant factors orientation. Moreover, data show altered pattern does not precede expansion. Other possible applications also illustrated, including field emission scanning electron micrographs microfibrils plant walls fluorescent actin.