Speaker
Description
The pollen tube expands rapidly (up to 1 cm/h) by the extreme form of polar growth known as tip growth, which is shared by many cells such as fungal hyphae. Experimental work supports a molecular framework underpinng pollen tube growth: An apical cap of active ROP1 GTPase defines the apical growth domain and is dynamically formed generated via a feed-forward loop and and a feedback loop linked by ROP1-dependent exocytosis. Mathematical modeling suggests that this framework is sufficient for the generation of the apical ROP1 cap and tip growth and also underscores pollen tube guidance to a gradient of attractants. To allow further quantitative dissection of the dynamic molecular mechanism controlling tip growth, we developed a Python-based automated tool for quantitative analysis of the apical structures and signaling components in growing pollen tubes. The broader application of this tool will be discussed.
