Laser microbeam manipulation of cell morphogenesis growing in fungal hyphae

Charles E. Bracker; Douglas J. Murphy; Rosamaria Lopez-Franco

doi:10.1117/12.274325

23 May 1997 Laser microbeam manipulation of cell morphogenesis growing in fungal hyphae

Charles E. Bracker, Douglas J. Murphy, Rosamaria Lopez-Franco

Proceedings Volume 2983, Functional Imaging and Optical Manipulation of Living Cells; (1997) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.274325
Event: BiOS '97, Part of Photonics West, 1997, San Jose, CA, United States

Abstract

Laser microbeam irradiation at 820 nm predictably and reproducibly altered morphogenetic patterns in fungal cells. Optical tweezers were highly effective as localized, noninvasive, and largely nondestructive probes under precise spatial and temporal control. In growing hyphae, the position of the Spitzenkorper (a multicomponent complex containing mainly secretory vesicles in the hyphal apex), is correlated with the site of maximum cell expansion during tip growth. The Spitzenkorper was not trapped by the laser, but moved away from the trap, and could be `chased' around the cell by the laser beam. Consequently, the direction of cell elongation was readily changed by moving the Spitzenkorper. When the laser was held steady at the cytoplasmic surface immediately beside the Spitzenkorper, an adventitious branch hypha was initiated on the same side of the hypha, suggesting that unilateral disturbance of vesicle traffic initiated a new lateral Spitzenkorper and hyphal branch near the original hyphal apex. If moving vesicles were trapped by the laser beam and transported to a different area of the cytoplasm near the cell surface, the cell profile bulged where the vesicles were newly concentrated. Variations in the mode of vesicle transfer caused: (1) single and multiple bulges, (2) adventitious branch hyphae, (3) increased cell diameter, and (4) changing directions of hyphal elongation. Thus, laser tweezers emerge as a powerful tool for controlling patterns of cell morphogenesis. The findings strongly support the hypothesis that sites of vesicle concentration and release to the cell surface are important determinants of cell morphogenesis in fungi. This conclusion lends support to the basic premises of a modern mathematical model of hyphal tip growth (the hyphoid/VSC model) but does not in itself provide the information needed for a comprehensive and integrated explanation of the mechanism of cell growth in fungi.

Citation Download Citation

Charles E. Bracker, Douglas J. Murphy, and Rosamaria Lopez-Franco "Laser microbeam manipulation of cell morphogenesis growing in fungal hyphae", Proc. SPIE 2983, Functional Imaging and Optical Manipulation of Living Cells, (23 May 1997); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.274325

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