Autophagy formation, microtubule disorientation, and alteration of ATG8 and tubulin gene expression under simulated microgravity in Arabidopsis thaliana.

Autophagy plays an important role in plant growth and development, pathogen invasion and modulates plant response and adaptation to various abiotic stress stimuli. The biogenesis and trafficking of autophagosomes involve microtubules (MTs) as important actors in the autophagic process. However, initiation of autophagy in plants under microgravity has not been previously studied.