Figure 4From: Rapid and dynamic subcellular reorganization following mechanical stimulation of Arabidopsisepidermal cells mimics responses to fungal and oomycete attackChanges in the microtubule network beneath the point of contact. Microtubules visualized in the cortical cytoplasm underlying the outer epidermal cell wall in a cotyledon of A. thaliana expressing TUA6-GFP [70]. The surface of the epidermal cell was touched with a tungsten microneedle at time 0:00. The position of the needle is indicated by the shadow outlined by the V-shaped lines. The position of the tip of the needle is shown by a line of reflected light. Images A-L are projections of five optical sections taken at the times indicated in minutes and seconds. The first sign of a reaction in the array occurs at 3 minutes 16 seconds when a linear region of diffuse fluorescence appears to the left of the needle tip (small arrow in C). A more intense cloud of diffuse fluorescence subsequently forms at the needle tip (F-L). At the same time, a microtubule-depleted zone about 20 μm in diameter forms around the needle tip as indicated by the arrows in I. A movie showing the dynamics of microtubule rearrangement in this experiment is shown in Additional File 5. Bar = 10 μm.Back to article page