The multifunctional roles of the extracellular matrix in the sessile life of the zygnematophyte Penium margaritaceum: stick, glide and cluster.

Adhesion and consequent adoption of a sessile habit is a common feature of many green algae and was likely a key mechanism in terrestrialization by an ancient zygnematophyte (i.e., the Zygnematophyceae, the group of algae ancestral to land plants).

Aberrant growth and expansion in Penium margaritaceum triggered by disruption of microtubules and the cell wall.

Penium margaritaceum, a unicellular zygnematophyte (Streptophyta), was employed to elucidate changes in cell expansion when cells were challenged with the fungal pectinolytic enzyme, pectate lyase, and/or the microtubule disrupting agent, amiprophos-methyl (APM). Microtubule disruption by APM results in significant swelling at expansion zones. These swollen zones provide an easy marker for the location of expansion zones, particularly in cells with altered cell wall pectin.

Chemically induced phenotype plasticity in the unicellular zygnematophyte, Penium margaritaceum.

Phenotypic plasticity allows a plant cell to alter its structure and function in response to external pressure. This adaptive phenomenon has also been important in the evolution of plants including the emergence of land plants from a streptophyte alga. Penium margaritaceum is a unicellular zygnematophyte (i.

Endosidin 5 disruption of the Golgi apparatus and extracellular matrix secretion in the unicellular charophyte Penium margaritaceum.

Background And Aims: Endosidins are a group of low-molecular-weight compounds, first identified by 'chemical biology' screening assays, that have been used to target specific components of the endomembrane system. In this study, we employed multiple microscopy-based screening techniques to elucidate the effects of endosidin 5 (ES5) on the Golgi apparatus and the secretion of extracellular matrix (ECM) components in Penium margaritaceum. These effects were compared with those caused by treatments with brefeldin A and concanamycin A.

The cell biology of charophytes: Exploring the past and models for the future.

Charophytes (Streptophyta) represent a diverse assemblage of extant green algae that are the sister lineage to land plants. About 500-600+ million years ago, a charophyte progenitor successfully colonized land and subsequently gave rise to land plants. Charophytes have diverse but relatively simple body plans that make them highly attractive organisms for many areas of biological research.