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Tau is an intrinsically-disordered microtubule-associated protein important for axonal development and a critical regulator of microtubule functions in axons. Tau activity is controlled by phosphorylation and its deregulation resulting in tau hyperphosphorylation and aggregation has been linked to multiple neurodegenerative disorders, collectively termed tauopathies. On microtubules, tau molecules segregate into two kinetically distinct phases, consisting of either independently diffusing molecules or interacting molecules that form cohesive "envelopes" around microtubules. Tau envelopes regulate the action of other microtubule-associated proteins, such as the motility of molecular motors, and protect microtubules against degradation by microtubule-severing enzymes. How the formation, dynamics, and function of tau envelopes are regulated, however, is unknown. Here we show that tau phosphorylation impedes the formation and functioning of protective tau envelopes. Using a combination of reconstitution experiments and live cell imaging, we show that phosphorylated tau incorporates into tau envelopes and that it slows down the envelope growth. Importantly, we demonstrate that phosphorylated tau also destabilizes already existing envelopes leading to their disassembly. Together, our results demonstrate...

Growth cone is a dynamic structure localized at the tips of growing neurites. It detects guidance cues in the extracellular environment and enables growing neurite to properly respond to them. Cytoskeleton plays a key role in navigation of growing neurite. Microtubules and microfilaments enable the motion of the growth cone by generating force acting on the cytoplasmic membrane as well as on the substrate on which the neuron grows. Microfilaments are located mainly in the periphery of the growth cone. They are more dynamic than microtubules, and their polymerization and depolymerization enable formation of dynamic processes on the growth cone. These are used by neurons to gain information about their surroundings and for formation of adhesions on permissive substrates. Adhesions facilitate the growth of neurites. Direction, timing and speed of formation of the dynamic processes are regulated by a number of actin-associated proteins. These proteins are common targets of signalling pathways that are induced by activation of growth cones' cytoplasmic membrane-bound receptors by guidance cues. Along the microfilament bundles, microtubules enter the periphery of the growth cone aided by crosslinking and motor proteins. Microtubules are necessary for reducing the growth cone dynamics, the first step in...

Structures of the cytoskeleton play a critical role in early mammalian development. Microtubules, intermediate filaments and actin microfilaments provide structural and mechanical basis for major developmental transitions of preimplantation development. Microvilli supported by bundles of actin filaments become restricted to one pole of the blastomere during the process of polarisation. All components of the cytoskeleton network undergo apparent reorganisation in embryo compaction. Cells flatten and adhere to each other thanks to the formation of cytoskeleton-linked intercellular junctions and oscillatory contractions generated by actomyosin complexes. Filopodia, actin based protrusions, are debated for their potential role in blastomere apposition and cell signalling. The first process of cell line specification in mammalian development is that which defines outer cells of morula as presumptive trophectoderm and inner cells as presumptive inner cell mass. Proteins and structures of cytoskeleton are asymmetrically distributed between these two populations helping to determine the fate of each blastomere. The aim of the thesis is to summarise the roles of cytoskeleton in blastomere polarisation, embryo compaction and specification of inner and outer cell populations in mammalian preimplantation...

The invasion of tumor cells from the primary lesion and the formation of metastases are the main reasons for the severe impact of cancer diseases. An option for dealing with this poor impact is the development of drugs (so-called migrastatics) that would target these processes and thus limit the spread of tumor cells from the site of the primary tumor. However, to develop such drugs, it is essential to clarify the molecular mechanisms that control or promote cell migration. One of the possible strategies for migrastatics development is the targeting of cytoskeletal structures, which play an indispensable role in cell migration. This work is focused on Neuron navigator 3 (NAV3), a protein that binds to + ends of microtubules (MTs), participates in their stabilization, and is able to mediate crosstalk between MTs and the actin network. The function of NAV3 is important for directing MTs into growing axons and proper neurite outgrowth, which is necessary for brain development. The results of this thesis suggest that NAV3 could act as a pro-tumor factor, which localizes not only to the + ends of MTs, but also to the cell protrusions, and whose presence supports the cell expansion and increases the invasive potential of glioblastoma cell lines. Key words: neuron navigator 3, microtubules, cancer,...

Microtubules (MTs) are essential components of the cytoskeleton in all eukaryotic cells. Their function is particularly important in neurons where MTs stabilize their long processes and are responsible for the precisely regulated anterograde and retrograde, intra-axonal and intra- dendritic transport over long distances. MTs are essential also during development of the vertebrate brain and all its major steps: neurogenesis, neuronal migration and neuronal differentiation. MTs are regulated at multiple levels, but two seem to be particularly important: 1. posttranslational modifications of tubulin (PTMs) have been shown to control several MT properties as stability or MT-based transport. 2. microtubule-associated proteins (MAPs) that bind soluble MT subunits, MT lattice as well as MT ends and control MT-based transport and MT dynamics by either stabilizing, destabilizing or severing MTs. Consequently, deregulation of either tubulin PTMs or MAPs may induce severe changes in neuronal cytoskeleton. Bachelor's thesis summarizes current knowledge on how PTMs (especially polyglutamylation) and MAPs (especially microtubule cleaving proteins such as spastin) regulate MT and neuronal development and degeneration. Keywords: Microtubules, tubulin post-translational modifications, polyglutamylation,...

Microtubular cytoskeleton plays crucial roles during diverse cellular processes, such as intracellular transport, cell motility and chromosome segregation during cytokinesis. Tubulin, the building block of microtubules, undergoes numerous post-translational modifications which affect microtubular dynamics and organization as well as their interaction with associated proteins. Understanding the role post-translational modifications play in the diversification of functions and properties of microtubules is key for our comprehension of the dynamics of the complex microtubule cytoskeleton. However, mechanisms behind the effect of post-translational modifications on microtubule cytoskeleton are not fully understood. In this work, we focus on the influence of post-translational modifications on microtubule polymerization and interaction with molecular motor kinesin-1. Using total internal fluorescence and interference reflection microscopy techniques, we here show that high levels of post-translational modifications on microtubules decrease the time of microtubule-kinesin interaction whereas binding affinity and median velocity are not significantly different on modified and unmodified microtubules. Further, we show that the absence of polyglutamylation on tubulin isotypes leads to a faster microtubule...

The spatio-temporal organization and dynamic behavior of microtubules accurately react to cellular needs during intracellular transport, signal transduction, growth, division, and differentiation. The cell generates centrosomal microtubules de novo with the help of γ-tubulin complexes (γTuRCs). The post-translational modifications fine-tune microtubule nucleation by targeting the proteins, interacting with γTuRCs. However, the exact signaling pathways, regulating centrosomal microtubule nucleation, remain mostly unknown. In the presented thesis, we functionally characterized protein tyrosine phosphatase SHP-1 and E3 UFM-protein ligase 1 (UFL1) with its interacting protein CDK5RAP3 (C53) in the regulation of centrosomal microtubule nucleation. We also elucidated the role of actin regulatory protein profilin 1 in this process. We found that SHP-1 formed complexes with γTuRC proteins and negatively regulated microtubule nucleation by modulating the amount of γ-tubulin/γTuRC at the centrosomes in bone marrow-derived mast cells (BMMCs). We suggested a novel mechanism with centrosomal tyrosine-phosphorylated Syk kinase, targeted by SHP-1 during Ag-induced BMMCs activation, regulating microtubules. We showed for the first time that UFL1/C53 protein complex is involved in the regulation of microtubule...

Nucleation of microtubules co-determines organization of this cytoskeleton component in cells and makes a significant contribution to shaping its dynamics. In plant cells, micro- tubules are mainly nucleated on preexisting ones and nucleation takes place in the cortex and also within the mitotic spindle and the fragmoplast. Recruiting the γTuRC, a pre- served universal nucleator, to the wall of microtubules is provided by augmin in cooperation with NEDD1/GCP-WD. The function of the γTuRC is at least in the case of nucleation in the spindle, but apparently in other situations as well further enhanced by XMAP215/MOR1, which raises efficiency of the γTuRC through its own polymerization activity, and TPX2, or its homologs, which for one thing, directly activates the complex and for another, locally increases concentration of tubulins by forming condensate with them, which also augments the probability of success of nucleation. Not much is known about regulatory pathways controlling this process, with the exception of the TTP complex, which is functional in the cortex. Overall, knowledge covering nucleation in plants is rather meager and information concerning the molecular mechanisms of functioning of mentioned factors comes mainly from research in animals. Keywords augmin, cytoskeleton, γTuRC,...

Microtubule associated proteins (MAPs) are considered as key regulators of molecular trafficking in cells. Even though their malfunctioning results in severe pathologies, such as neurodegenerative disorders, the regulatory roles of these proteins remain under debate. Since MAPs bind to the cytoskeleton, this structure has to be vital for the function of MAPs. Microtubules, a highly dynamic type of cytoskeletal structure, have been given extra attention due to their association with cell division and vital functions in neurons. Microtubules can undergo post-translational modifications that affect molecular motors as well as binding of other proteins, such as MAPs. Whether post-translational modifications of microtubules regulate the distribution of MAPs is so far not sufficiently documented. However, MAPs have been shown to cooperatively form cohesive envelopes on the microtubules and thereby regulate the access of motors and severing enzymes. As there are many types of MAPs and they are mutually exclusive, a hypothesis of a regulatory 'MAP code' emerged recently in the literature. Using available literature, this review will try to introduce the new model of MAP code and provide some background information on previous research on this topic.

ARP2/3 is an evolutionarily conserved heteroheptameric protein complex. Its main activity lies in the nucleation of dendritic actin filaments that are involved in membrane remodeling. ARP2/3 takes part in plasma membrane remodeling and the formation of cytoplasmic protrusions that serve in the amoeboid motion of mammalian cells and some protists and plays role in exocytosis and endocytosis of animal and yeast cells. The main objective of this work was to find a connection between the ARP2/3 complex and the regulation of the plant endomembrane system. Using TIRF microscopy we visualized the localization of the ARP2/3 complex in the cortical layer of plant cells and compared it to the localization of several endomembrane markers from the Rab family and an exocytotic marker Exo84b. In the vicinity of the plasma membrane, the ARP2/3 complex subunits localized to dynamic dots very similar to the localization of Exo84b protein. Colocalization analysis showed that a small portion of Exo84b marker and ARP2/3 complex signals colocalize and this result was seconded by the biochemical approach of coimmunoprecipitation. Key words: ARP2/3, endomembrane system, cortical layer, RabA1g, RabC1, RaD2a, Exo84b

While we have a good understanding of the roles of actin and tubulin filaments in the cell cytoskeleton, intermediate filaments (IFs) are often overlooked. However, the importance of IFs becomes quite apparent, as proteins similar to IF proteins have been identified in many protist cells. This holds particularly for the cells of protists, where even the functions of some members of the of actin and tubulin superfamilies remain unclear. Intermediate filaments are still not well established as components of protist cytoskeletons, in contrast to their more thoroughly studied counterparts in Metazoa. Protist and metazoan IF proteins are dissimilar in their sequence; however, they share similarities in structure, and they assemble autonomously into analogous filaments. IF-like proteins have been localized to striated fibers or unique cytoskeletal components in several organisms, even though not much is known about the protein composition of these striated fibers to date. This suggests that IF-like proteins might be a universally present component of these striated fibers often seen in protist cells. Keywords: Protists, cytoskeleton, microtubules, microfilaments, intermediate filaments, fibrils, protein composition

During embryonal development, axons of newly differentiated neurons need to properly interconnect and create a functional neuronal network. To achieve this, the cell requires a growth cone. The growth cone is a highly dynamic structure at the end of growing axons that serves both as the navigator and the propeller. Crosstalk between actin and microtubules is vital for proper axonal pathfinding. But the exact mechanism of this cooperation remains unknown. This diploma thesis investigates the possible role of a candidate scaffolding protein called anillin in this process. Anillin has been studied in two human cell lines. SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cell line was used for overexpression and siRNA knock-down experiments. Anillin overexpression led to perturbed neurite morphology and growth cone dynamics in SH-SY5Y cells, whereas cells with lower anillin expression had fewer neurites. Next, neurons differentiated from human iPSC (induced pluripotent stem cells) expressing endogenous fluorescently tagged anillin were studied. Local dynamic high concentration spots of anillin have been observed at the base of cell protrusions of differentiating neurons. These anillin flares appeared during cell migration, early neurite initiation, and in newly created growth cones. These results suggest that anillin plays a...

The microtubular cytoskeleton is a ubiquitous and highly diverse biopolymer network present in all eukaryotic cells. Microtubules stochastically alternate between phases of growth and shrinkage. Cells take advantage of this dynamicity to generate forces for essential processes, such as cell division, motility or morphogenesis. Regulating the microtubule dynamics enables cells to adaptively respond to a wide range of tasks and conditions. Molecular mechanisms underpinning the regulation are not fully understood. Using a bottom-up approach and the combination of single molecule total internal reflection fluorescence (TIRF) microscopy and interference reflection microscopy (IRM), we here reconstituted and explored two dynamic cytoskeletal systems. (i) Microtubule doublets, comprising incomplete B-microtubule on the surface of a complete A- microtubule, provide an essential structural scaffold for flagella. Despite the fundamental role of microtubule doublets, the molecular mechanism governing their formation is unknown. We here demonstrate an inhibitory role of tubulin C-terminus in microtubule doublet assembly. By partial enzymatic digestion of polymerized microtubules followed by the addition of free tubulin in the presence of a stabilizing agent, we assembled microtubule doublets and revealed the B-...

Microtubules, which are made of polymers of α- and β-tubulin, are an integral part of the cytoskeleton. Both types of tubulin share a considerable sequential homology across eukaryotic organisms. Tubulins are encoded by relatively large gene families. The expression of these genes produces different tubulin isotypes, some of which may exhibit different properties. Tubulin isotypes can be further posttranslationally modified. The best known posttranslational modifications of tubulin include acetylation, phosphorylation, tyrosination, polyglutamylation and polyglycylation. The tubulin code arises from the combination of expression of different tubulin isotypes and their posttranslational modifications. As a consequence, microtubules in cells can be composed of a "mixture" of different tubulins with distinct functions and properties. Even though the existence of the tubulin code has been proven in every model organism, plants included, the precise understanding of the meaning of microtubules being composed of different tubulins is still subjected to research. Much of the research on the tubulin code has been carried out on animal models. In contrast, relatively little is known about the existence of the tubulin code in plants. This theses summarizes current knowledge on the localization and regulation...

Membraneless organelles (MLOs) are a newly described type of cellular compartments. They consist of protein and nucleic acid molecules that undergo liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS). MLOs are able to fulfill unique biological roles, because they are highly dynamic and their composition can be effectively regulated. Composition and function of these formations are swiftly being elucidated. The work summarizes the basic principles of LLPS in living organisms and further focuses on several types of MLOs functionally connected to microtubules (MTs). Their recurrent feature is the ability to nucleate MTs. This eventual role corresponds well with their high temporal and spatial dynamics.

Centrioles are evolutionarily conserved protein structures composed of microtubules. In somatic cells, centrioles serve as the basal body of cilia and flagella and allow the assembly of pericentriolar material, thereby creating the centrosome. Without centrosome, animal cells are not capable of nuclear division. Centrioles do not arise de novo and their formation always requires the presence of a preexisting centriole. Since there are no centrioles in the egg at the time of fertilization, unlike spermatozoa, sperm is the carrier of centrioles and therefore all of the centrioles of the emerging organism are of paternal origin. There are two centrioles in the sperm - a cylindrical shape proximal and a distal one, which is perpendicular to the proximal. The sperm centrioles are the basis for the formation of the sperm flagellum and after fertilization form the mitotic spindle of the zygote, necessary for equal DNA and cell distribution. It follows from the above that the presence of centrioles in sperm is essential in mammals and defects in their structure may lead to male sterility or embryo development disorders. However, sperm centrioles differ from somatic centrioles in their structure and behavior and understanding these differences is one of the important tasks of reproductive biology.

Zinc-binding proteins represent approximately one tenth of the proteome and a good portion of them are zinc-dependent hydrolases. This thesis focuses on biochemical and structural characterization of glutamate carboxypeptidase II (GCPII) and histone deacetylase 6 (HDAC6), two members of the zinc-dependent metallohydrolase superfamily. We describe here their interactions with natural substrates and inhibitors. GCPII is a homodimeric membrane protease catalyzing hydrolytic cleavage of glutamate from the neurotransmitter N-acetylaspartylglutamate (NAAG) and dietary folates in the central and peripheral nervous systems and small intestine, respectively. This enzyme is associated with several neurological disorders and also presents an ideal target for imaging and treatment of prostate cancer. GCPII inhibitors typically consist of a zinc-binding group (ZBG) linked to an S1' docking moiety (a glutamate moiety or its isostere). As such, these compounds are highly hydrophilic molecules therefore unable to cross the blood-brain barrier and this hampers targeting GCPII to the central nervous system. Different approaches are adopted to alter the S1' docking moiety of the existing inhibitors. As a part of this thesis, we present different strategies relying on replacement of the canonical P1' glutamate residue...

Microtubules are a prominent part of the cytoskeletal network in eukaryotic cells. They are involved in nearly all cellular processes, e.g. in vesicular trafficking, signal transduction, locomotion, or cell morphogenesis. To discharge that many functions, precise regulation of microtubule dynamics and architecture is essential. Such regulation is maintained by various microtubule-associated proteins, which usually bind from the outside. However, several proteins were found to bind in the lumen of microtubules. These microtubule inner proteins were shown to function either as post-translational modifiers of tubulin or stabilizers in time- persistent microtubular structures. A few inner proteins were identified, but our understanding of their attributes is still incomplete. This thesis summarizes current knowledge of microtubule inner proteins. The scope is focused on their enzymatic and structural features. Tubulin acetyltransferase represents the enzymatic MIPs. Possible ways of lumen entry and impact on the tubulin lattice are described. Next, the structural roles of proteins inside microtubules, most prominent in the axoneme, are outlined. The relevance of microtubule inner proteins for cytoskeletal functions, flagellar motility, and future perspectives are discussed at the end.

This thesis is focused on the role of host cytoskeleton, primarily microtubules and microfilaments, during tick-borne encephalitis virus infection in human neuroblastoma cell line SK-N-SH and tick cell line IRE/CTVM19. The importance of cytoskeletal integrity and dynamics to the viral replication cycle were examined using specific chemical inhibitors showing the virus utilizes studied structures in both cell lines. Immunofluorescence microscopy revealed structural changes in the actin cytoskeleton during late infection in SK-N-SH cells. Moreover, differences in expression of cytoskeleton-associated genes in both cell lines were compared. Several genes with up-regulated expression in SK-N-SH cells were identified during late infection.

Actin filaments and microtubules are involved in cell development and morphogenesis. Plant Class II formins regulate both cytoskeletal polymers. However their function has not yet been fully described. This study examines effects of LOF mutations in Arabidopsis thaliana FH13 (AT5G58160) and FH14 (AT1G31810) genes on early root system development using a pharmacological approach. Since measuring root length of numerous mutant lines in multiple conditions is laborious and time consuming, this thesis also involves optimization of this process with the aim to establish a reliable method of fast visualisation and measurement of Arabidopsis seedlings in a time series in the laboratory. Furthermore, statistical analysis for a large amount of data gathered in multiple conditions had to be optimized. While no significant phenotype in terms of root length was found in fh13, fh14 and double fh13 fh14 LOF mutants under standard conditions, treatment with cytoskeletal drugs revealed possible changes in lateral root branching in an fh14 mutant. Nevertheless, specific function of FH13 and FH14 remains a question.

Microtubule cytoskeleton is a dynamic filamentous network, whose reorga- nization underpins important cellular processes, such as cell motility or cell di- vision. This remodeling highly depends on microtubule-associated proteins that can remodel individual microtubules, such as katanin. Katanin is a microtubule- associated protein that employs ATP hydrolysis to sever microtubules. This function can rapidly reorganize microtubule networks by providing fast amplification of the microtubule polymer number as well as microtubule fast degradation. The exact mechanism of microtubule severing and its regulation by katanin is largely dis- cussed nowadays. In this project I would like to describe katanin's mechanism of action and its regulation on a molecular level. Key words: cytoskeleton, remodelling of microtubule networks, microtubules, microtubule se- vering enzymes, katanin 1

Aluminium toxicity is the main factor limiting plant growth on acid soils. Aluminium inhibits root growth within few minutes after aluminium treatment. The mechanism and primary target of his action is still unknown. In this diploma thesis the effect of aluminium toxicity on dynamics of cortical microtubules WT and pldα1 plants was studied using the EB1a-GFP marker. Polymerization rate in both the transition and the elongation zone increased immediately after the aplication of aluminium. Nevertheless, microtubules in the transition zone are much more sensitive to aluminium, because the aluminium-induced increase in the polymerization rate was higher than in the elongation zone. Plants lacking PLDα1 showed higher dynamics on plus ends of cortical microtubules compared to WT during aluminium stress, which enabled them to react faster to stress stimuli. Mutants showed lower sensitivity to aluminium and 100 μM concentration of aluminium ions has beneficial effect on root growth in pldα1. These results suggest that PLDα1 influences microtubule dynamics. Microtubules in pldα1 plants were more dynamic and they polymerized faster in the response to aluminium, which was accompanied by decreased sensitivity to aluminium stress compared to WT. Changes in microtubule dynamics may play a role in aluminium...

Drug resistance in cancer cells is a frequent cause of breast cancer therapy failure. The aim of this thesis was to elucidate mechanisms of resistance to taxanes, that are used in therapy of various types of cancer, including breast cancer. We particularly assessed the role of autophagy and changes in βII- and βIII isotype gene expression in development of taxane resistance. As model of breast cancer we used human sensitive cell lines SK-BR-3, MCF-7 a T47-D and resistant sublines SK-BR-3-PAC/REZ a MCF-7- PAC/REZ which grow in paclitaxel concentration lethal for sensitive sublines. In cell lines SK-BR-3 and MCF-7, taxane application decreased the level of autophagy, however in cell line T47-D led to its activation. We detected no difference between basal levels of autophagy in sensitive subline SK-BR-3 compared to resistant subline SK-BR-3-PAC/REZ, but we observed increased basal level of autophagy in sensitive subline MCF-7 compared to the resistant subline. Increase or decrease level of autophagy did not affect taxane resistance, except activation of autophagy in resistant subline SK-BR-3-PAC/REZ, that further increased the resistance to paclitaxel. Taxane application in cell line T47-D increased the levels of βII- and βIII-tubuline expression, however we did not find any similar effect in other tested...

Cytokinesis represents a very complex and highly orchestrated process. For many years, the mechanism of animal cell cytokinesis was described as a result of actomyosin ring constriction. By contrast, in plant cells the division was seen as an outcome of vesicle fusion at the cell plate region between two daughter cells. Recent studies, however, uncover the involvement of vesicular trafficking in animal cell cytokinesis. This thesis aims to highlight the importance of endocytic transport and the necessity of its proper regulation. At first, the origin of vesicles is debated. Afterwards, three main types of endocytic vesicles are examined - Rab11/FIP3 endosomes, Rab35-endosomes and PI(3)P-enriched endosomes, along with their function and interacting partners. Finally, the attention is given to the mechanism of abscission and midbody inheritance. Ongoing processes are accompanied by changes in membrane composition, cytoskeleton reorganization and targeted delivery of distinct cargo molecules. Failure in cytokinesis has been implicated in the etiology of many diseases, such as cancer. Therefore, better understanding of associated endocytic trafficking may provide us with new therapeutic strategies.

Aluminium toxicity is the main limiting factor in crop production on acid soils. The main symptom of aluminium toxicity is a rapid inhibition of root growth, but the mechanism of root growth cessation remains unclear. In this diploma thesis we deal with the question of whether phospholipases PLDα1 and PLDδ may play a role in the mechanism of aluminium toxicity. We compared the responses of plants lacking PLDα and PLDδ with WT plants. Growth analysis of roots was performed in hydroponic conditions. The most sensitive part of roots was transient zone in which cells were dying earlier. It was further found that pldα1 plants were less sensitive on aluminium toxicity because their roots showed less growth inhibition than WT. Pldδ plants did not differ from WT plants in their response to aluminum. During further analysis of the pldα1 reactions, it was found that the root cells were capable of cell expansion during aluminum toxicity, and the cellular malformations were formed on the roots. This phenomenon was associated with faster reorientation and even depolymerization of cortical microtubules in response to toxic aluminium in pldα plants compared to WT plants. The results indicated that PLDα1 molecule affects the stability of cortical microtubules. Microtubules were less stable and they depolymerized...

Cytoskeleton is known to participate in exocytosis of yeast and animal cells. The role of plant cytoskeleton during exocytosis has not been fully understood yet. However, both actin and microtubules evidently contributes to the secretion of specific cargo proteins or cell wall components. Plant cytoskeleton influences the dynamics of exocytosis through various functions. First, secretory vesicles are delivered near the plasma membrane. Second, microtubules were shown to mark the place of exocytosis. Third, cytoskeleton is able to prevent membrane fusion by simple separation of compartments. Fourth, cytoskeleton potentially mediates the interaction between molecules of secretory apparatus. Secretion of certain cargo molecules appears to be dependent on different cytoskeleton types and the exocytosis seems to be specifically regulated in each tissue. This thesis aims to describe interplay of cytoskeleton and secretory pathway on the example of tip growth and to predict future direction of research on secretory pathway based on cellulose synthase secretory data.

In eukaryotic cells, microtubules are nucleated and organized by protein structures called microtubule- organizing centers. There is a great diversity in structure and morphology of these structures in eukaryotic organisms. Animal centrosome, yeast spindle pole body and basal bodies of flagellar apparatus are the best known types of so called focused microtubule-organizing centers, where microtubules are nucleated from one or two concrete sites in the cell. These focused microtubule- organizing centers are replaced by diffuse centers in higher plant cells, which means that microtubules are nucleated from dispersed nucleation sites. Focused centers are rarely found in land plant cells. These focused centers comprise bicentrioles and blepharoplasts, which give rise to the locomotory apparatus of motile spermatozoid of bryophytes, pteridophytes, cycads and Ginkgo. Another types of focused microtubule-organizing centers in bryophytes are polar organizers, and the nuclear and the plastid envelopes in mitotic and meiotic cells. Powered by TCPDF (www.tcpdf.org)

On the basis of detailed phenotypic examination of fh1 and fh2 mutants we observed that the main housekeeping Arabidopsis thaliana formin AtFH1 (At3g25500) and its closest relative, AtFH2 (At2g43800) are involved in both actin filaments and microtubule dynamics. fh1 mutants showed increased sensitivity to the actin polymerization inhibitor Latrunculin B (LatB). Formin mutants had cotyledon pavement cells which exhibited more pronounced lobes compared to the wild type, and alterations in vascular tissue patterning were found. The double fh1 fh2 homozygote was not obtained, suggesting that at least one functional formin gene is required for proper gametophyte development. Methods used to observe and quantify both architecture and dynamics of the cortical cytoskeleton from confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) and variable angle epifluorescence microscopy (VAEM) were standarized and allowed to find that mutants exhibited more abundant but less dynamic F- actin bundles and more dynamic microtubules than wild type seedlings, fh1 mutant phenotype observed in roots was further aggravated by a (heterozygous) fh2 mutation. The formin inhibitor SMIFH2 mimicked the alterations observed in fh1 mutants in plants, it has been the first report of this inhibitor in plants. Defects in membrane trafficking were...

The aim of the thesis is to review the current knowledge about MAPKs and their link to cytoskeleton namely to organization and nucleation of microtubules. In the experimental part I worked out scheme for activation of MAPKs and for drug induced inhibition. Specifically activation by hypo-osmotic shock and inhibition by U0126 were optimized in Arabidopsis thaliana cells and seedlings and detected by western blotting using antibodies recognizing specific active phosphorylated forms of MAPKs.

The cells are able to acquire variety of shapes, in which cytoskeleton plays an important role. Cytoskeleton influences deposition of cell wall materials, regulates vesicle movement in cell, participates in exocytosis and endocytosis. Cortical microtubules affect celulose accumulation in cell wall and determine direction of cell expansion, although the exact connection between microtubules and cellulose remains unclear. Actin promotes growth and contributes to its spatial regulation in both tip ang diffuse growing cells. Actin is important for secretion in expanding cells but its exact functions in cell growth regulation are not explained yet. Analysis of mutants, spectroscopic methods, cytoskeletal drugs, fluorescence proteins and other methods are used to better understand how actin and microtubule cytoskeleton are integrated during plant cell morphogenesis. Epidermal and trichome cells of Arabidopsis thaliana are a good model of research and they are used for most studies.

Microtubular cytoskeleton is involved in many processes in plant cells, including cell division, growth and development. Other proteins enable its functions by modulation of its dynamics and organization and by mediation of functional and structural interaction with other cell structures. Identification of the mediating proteins and the functions of these interactions under specific conditions were the main aims of the thesis. Membrane proteins interacting with microtubules were identified using biochemical methods. Surprisingly, the identified proteins co-sedimenting with microtubules were not members of the "classical" microtubule associated proteins (MAPs). There were enzymes, chaperones and plant specific proteins among them. For further studies, the identified microtubule-associated heat-shock protein 90 (Hsp90_MT) was chosen. Recombinant Hsp90_MT binds directly to microtubules and tubulin dimers in vitro. The ATP-binding pocket is not responsible for this association. In BY-2, Hsp90_MT co-localizes with phragmoplast and cortical microtubules and is involved in microtubule recovery after their depolymerization during cold treatment. In plants, Hsp90 is involved in cell cycle progression, its inhibition causes cell-cycle arrest in G1 phase. Based on literature search for animal proteins...

The taxanes are a class of commonly used anticancer agents, which are very effective in treatment of breast, ovarian, prostate or lung cancer. Taxanes bind to the β-tubulin subunit of microtubules and lead to their stabilization and inhibition of depolymerization. Such microtubules lose their function to form mitotic spindle, thus arresting cells in G2/M phase and resulting in apoptosis. Unfortunately some cells are able to escape from taxanes-induced apoptosis by developing various mechanisms of resistance including alteration in taxanes target microtubules or upregulation of specific transporters that pump the drug out of cells. Other types of resistance are connected with process of programmed cell death (PCD), especially with proteins that after taxane application participate in its successful progress. Taxanes can directly or indirectly modify the activity of Bcl-2-family proteins that control mitochondrial and endoplasmic reticulum integrity, thus regulating the initiation of PCD. Caspases are executioners of PCD and caspase-2 activated by cytoskeletal disruption seems to be especially important in taxanes- induced apoptosis. In some cases can taxane treatment also result in caspase-independent cell death. Special role has protein p53 that seems to be involved only in apoptosis caused by low taxanes...

This bachelor thesis discusses the phenomenon of cellular senescence in the context of cytoskeleton organization. Differences in the organization of cytoskeleton be- tween normal proliferative cells and senescent cells are being compared. Cellular cytoskele- ton is a very dynamic structure and influences the function of the cell within a tissue. This thesis gathers current evidence about senescence and cytoskeleton and indicates possible directions for future research. Keywords: cellular senescence, antitumour barrier, cell migration, cytoskeleton, microtubules, cancer 1

Microtubular cytoskeleton represents a target for a myriad of diverse chemical compounds, referred to as microtubule-active drugs. Produced by certain plants, animals or microbes, the substances often effectively elicit cell death - especially in animals and also in plants to a certain extent, but never in species which produce them to defend against their predators. Nowadays, several microtubule-active substances constitute hallmarks of anti-cancer treatment and agricultural weed control. There is an enormous sum of knowledge about the action of paclitaxel (taxol), vinca alkaloids and colchicine, three best-known microtubule active compounds used in medicine, and new research often challenges the previously accepted theories. This work investigates the mechanism of action of microtubule-active drugs from the angle of biochemistry and cell biology, as well as from the physiological standpoint. Effects on microtubule levels and dynamics and the path towards the cell death are reviewed. In the last chapter, attention is given to drug activity in both animal and plant bodies and, finally, to drug-producing plant species which often show substantial resistance.

Microtubules (MTs) are one of the essential cell structure that participate in a number of key events in the plant cells and their properties and functions are influenced and modified by many other proteins. These proteins belong to a group of microtubule- associated proteins (MAPs, microtubule-associated proteins). One of the MAPs, the molecular chaperone Hsp90, examines and fulfills a large number of different functions in the cell. Its colocalization with MTs has been demonstrated previously by Freudenreich and Nick (1998) and Petrášek et al. (1998). However, direct interaction with MTs was described only recently using cosedimentation assay. The specific cytosolic isoform of tobacco Hsp90 bound to MTs was called Hsp90_MT due to its ability to bind MTs. It has been also found that the binding to MTs is independent on the activity of ATP (Krtková et al., 2012). The authors also described a positive effect of Hsp90_MT on MT recovery after their exposure to cold stress. Although MT cytoskeleton dynamics is influenced by a large number of MAPs, it is surprising that the molecular mechanism of MAPs interaction with MTs and their MT-binding domains have not been described yet. Therefore, we decided to determine the tobacco Hsp90_MT MT-binding domain by production of a set of recombinant proteins...

Formins are proteins facilitating formation of actin filaments. They affect structure of cytoskeleton and participate in cytokinesis and tip growth. There are 2 classes of formins in Arabidopsis thaliana, which include FH1 and FH2 (Formin Homology 1 and 2) domain. Formins of the class I have usually a transmembrane domain on N-terminus. Due to this fact they can interact with membranes. Some formins from the class II include PTEN domain (Phosphatase and Tensin Homolog) derived from sequences of PTEN proteins which has lost the function of phosphatase. It is assumed this domain can bind on a membrane via the phosphatase section or C2 domain. This thesis was focused on the formin AtFH13 from the class II in Arabidopsis thaliana and on its PTEN domain. There were analyzed differences between mutants and wild-types in length of roots in seedlings and in size of seeds and seed coats, and observed the effect of dexamethasone on the length of roots on AtFH13. PTEN domain of the formin was isolated from cDNA, cloned to a vector and fused with YFP. The tagged protein was visualized by the method of transient expression in epidermal cells in the leaves of Nicotiana benthamiana. No big differences were observed between plants mutant in the gene AtFH13 and wild-type in choice parameters. Dexamethasone did't influence...

The activation of bone marrow-derived mast cells (BMMCs) induces a number of cell processes such as degranulation, proliferation and cytoskeleton rearrangements. Although microtubules are important in these processes, molecular mechanisms that control changes in microtubule organisation during cell activation are unknown. Activation of BMMCs can be achieved in several ways. Under physiological conditions, the aggregation of IgE receptors (FcRI) on the surface of BMMCs leads to the initiation of specific signaling pathways. Cells can be also activated nonspecifically by a tyrosine phosphatase inhibitor pervanadate, or by thapsigargin that inhibits Ca2+ ATPase pumps located on the endoplasmic reticulum. In this diploma thesis it was found out that rapid morphological changes can be monitored when BMMC are immobilised on the fibronectin before their activation. It was proved that specific and nonspecific activation events lead to microtubule reorganization, as well as to generation of a large number of microtubule-dependent protrusions. In the course of FcRI aggregation, generation of microtubule protrusions depends on the activity of Src family protein tyrosine kinases and on the intracellular Ca2+ concentration. STIM1, an endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ sensor, which participates in the activation of...

1. Abstract and key words MTs are one of the basic cellular protein structure. Their features and function are influenced and modified by group of other proteins, i.e. microtubule-associated proteins (MAPs). In the last decades, an extensive research on MAPs and their wide range of functions has been carried out. Therefore we are aware of the involvement of some of the MAPs in MT dynamics, other have been shown to have rather structural function. They bundle MTs with various cell structures, such as the other MTs, proteins, organelles, actin cytoskeleton or plasma membrane. Many described MAPs are homologous in the whole eukaryotic domain, for example MAP65 or EB1 (END BINDING 1) family, therefore it is interesting to follow if and how the functions of plant MAPs differ from their animal counterparts. On the other hand, there are many specific MAPs with unique functions in plants, e.g. ATK5 or SPR1 (SPIRAL 1). This Bachelor thesis is a survey on current knowledge of plant MAPs and it makes an effort to present their characteristic and functions in plant cell and organism. Key words: cytoskeleton, microtubules, microtubule-associated proteins, plant cell, growth and development