Re-engineering Golgi dynamics in plants

In higher plants organelle movement is largely driven by an actomyosin dependent process. There is a paucity of data regarding myosin-organelle interactions and the molecular components required to facilitate this interaction (Perico and Sparkes, New Phytol 2018); six class XI myosins affect global, not organelle specific movement, 2 / 10 and a receptor family of proteins has been identified (Avisar et al., Plant Physiol 2009; Peremyslov et al., Plant Cell 2013). Considering that organelle movement appears to play essential roles in cell growth, plant biomass and in response to biotic and abiotic stimuli, we are still a long way from understanding the functional role conveyed through the movement of individual organelles. By identifying the specific molecular components which drive the movement of individual types of organelle, we can then begin to modify and re-engineer movement parameters to determine how changes in movement impact upon cell growth. Sparkes' group has identified the first Golgi specific myosin (XIK)-receptor (MRF7) interaction (unpublished data). The project herein will capitalise on these findings to ultimately synthetically affect the movement of Golgi with the aim to determine how Golgi movement affects cell growth.