Distribution of microtubules during the growth of tobacco pollen tubes

Summary— The distribution of microtubules was investigated in Nicotiana tabacum pollen tubes at different stages of tube growth by immunofluorescence microscopy. Using specific antibodies, the presence of microtubules consisting of different tubulin isoforms was tested. α‐, β‐ and tyrosinated α‐tubulin were present within the tube, whereas the acetylated form was lacking. The presence of tubulin subunits in pollen tube extracts was also investigated by immunoblotting analyses. The use of a confocal laser scanning microscope integrated with computer‐assisted imaging, allowed a detailed visualization of the microtubule distribution and organization. Cytoplasmic microtubules organized as short bundles with various orientations were detected at the apex of long tubes. 1993 Société Française des Microscopies and Société Biologie Cellulaire de France